Sour Sippin’ at the Autumn Brew Review 2025
- 4 Paws Marketing
- Oct 22
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 8
FAST ABR FACTS:
Event: 24th Annual Autumn Brew Review
Hosted by: MN Craft Brewers Guild
Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Breweries: 80+ from across Minnesota
Location: Boom Island Park - along the Mississippi, in Minneapolis, MN
Highlights: Unlimited samples, food trucks, live music, games, and llamas
The 24th annual Autumn Brew Review brought over 80 breweries from across Minnesota together for one perfect day of craft beer, food trucks, live music, llamas (yep, llamas), and a whole lot of fun right along the Mississippi. The weather was perfect in the mid-60s, sunny, breezy, and perfect for sipping sours outdoors in the middle of October.
For me, though, this wasn’t just a beer fest. This was a sour beer hunt, a chance to check out new breweries, sample and compare flavor combos, and maybe (just maybe) find my next fridge staple or must-visit taproom.
Not every brewery at the fest had a sour option, but that’s probably okay. My palate (and liver) can only handle so much tartness in one afternoon. But, I did still manage to taste a pretty solid range of options, from Goses to Berliner Weisse and even a few ciders and THCs.
The Gose Group
out of Baxter, MN came through with a Cranberry Lawn Chair Kettle Sour Gose (4.2% ABV) , a lighter cranberry-forward option. I’d love to try out their other options mentioned on their website.
from Owatonna, MN had a Lemond Lime Gose (4.7% ABV). Not really my type - lemon/lime isn’t a go-to for me, but it’s clean, zesty, and would hit the spot on a hot day for those that like the flavor combo.
(Minneapolis, MN) brought a collaborative sour with Venn Brewing, the Inevitable Enterprise (9.8% ABV). A unique combination of fruit (mango, passionfruit, guava, and more) and chili peppers that I thoroughly enjoyed. Check out the full review on the Wooden Ship Brewery here.
Berliner Weisse
Imminent Brewing from Northfield, MN brought out their Esperanza Sour Ale (5.1% ABV) with strawberries and prickly pear. I found this one to be quite delightful, so well balanced and perfectly tart. I would like to get in and visit this taproom first-hand, since they are dog-friendly and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Might have to see if I can bring some home to keep on hand.
Top 10 Sours from the Autumn Brew Review
Out of the 20+ sour options available, these10 were the ones that made me stop and say, “Okay, that’s really good.”
TAPPED IN ABR TOP 5
Wandering Leaf Brewing Co. from St. Paul had one of my top 5 from the brew fest, their Another Cenobites the Dust (5.9% ABV) which was a perfect fall blend of cranberry and blood orange with a touch of cinnamon. It’s like fall in a glass - so good, I would’ve easily brought a growler home.
Sunken Ship Brewing Company out of Princeton, MN featured their Dancing Magic (5% ABV), a kiwi strawberry sour that was delicious. The kiwi flavor made it stand out from other strawberry forward sours with a nice level of tart balanced with the sweetness of the strawberry.
Barrel Theory Beer Company from St. Paul was pouring two different sour options, bonus points from this sour lover but one definitely stood out. Tahitian Tingle is their gluten free (6% ABV) that was one of my most favorite of the whole Brewfest. So tangy and sweet, it was perfection in a glass.
Fish Dream Brewing, a brand new brewery opening in Rockford, MN, featured Scary Cherry (4% ABV), a chokecherry sour that I thoroughly enjoyed. I will most definitely be watching for their grand opening! A nice, unique flavor of chokecherry that you don’t find in any other sours, the perfect amount of tartness to make this one a brew fest favorite!
Nouvelle Brewing in Robbinsdale, MN is another favorite location of mine. Today they were sampling their Pack Lunch (5% ABV), and though I wasn’t sure what to expect, I loved it. So different from everything else I tried, and honestly nothing like anything I’ve ever had, it honestly tasted like a PBJ sandwich. Not what I thought I’d like in a sour beer, but it was so unique. They describe it as a fruit punch sour with concord grape, peanuts, cocoa nibs, and granola - if you want something out of the norm, you have to try it.
Honorable Mentions
320 Dwellers Brewing out of Pine City, MN was pouring their Raspberry Smucker (5% ABV), a blend of raspberry and passionfruit with a little more tartness than most, right up my alley.
Gambit Brewing Co of St Paul had their Aloha - Mike Tyson! Fruit Punch Sour (6% ABV) which was a favorite from our previous brew fest. Much like an adult Hawaiian Punch, it’s a tart blend of blood orange, pineapple and the traditional flavor of fruit punch. Super tasty and easy to drink - it could definitely get you in trouble if you’re not careful.
Goat Ridge Brewing from New London, MN featured a sour they call “Simply Ramona” (4.7% ABV) that was decent, pretty standard sour with a blend of raspberry, blackberry and orange. A bit more sweet than sour, it was one I would definitely order in a full pint.
Luce Line Brewing Co in Plymouth has been one we’ve visited on a consistent basis, though I always find myself disappointed in their sour options. Today they were pouring their WTF - Pineapple Mango Puff (5.5% ABV) that is a bit thicker than most and definitely has that smoothie feel to it. I was somewhat pleasantly surprised with this one, it’s definitely something I could order, just not one I need to take home with me. The balance of sweet and tart is great and if you like the pineapple, mango blend, and don’t mind a smoothie-type sour, this one is probably up your alley.
Lupulin Brewing from Big Lake, MN is a staple, I haven't met a Sticky Puddles blend I didn’t like. They had 2 sour options, but the Sticky Puddles Strawberry Rhubarb (9% ABV) was the highlight. Strawberry and rhubarb have become one of my favorite sour blends, as the rhubarb adds the perfect amount of pucker.
Outstate Brewing Company comes from Fergus Falls, MN with their Grandma’s Garden Rhubarb Sour (5.6% ABV) was another sour that hit the perfect sweet-to-tart ratio.
The Autumn Brew Review proved why it’s a must-attend for Minnesota craft beer fans. Whether you prefer hops, stouts, lighter lagers, or sours like me, there’s something for everyone. For sour fanatics, the creativity was so fun to discover - unique flavors, great fruit blends, and even peanut butter made an appearance.
I left with a happy heart, a very full belly, and a list of taprooms I’ll be visiting before next year’s ABR rolls around. Until next time, cheers to all of the craft brewers throughout Minnesota who are pushing boundaries and crafting the best blends of sour perfection.
Tapped In Takeaways
Best Brewery to Watch: Fish Dream Brewing (Rockford, MN) - Their featured sour was tasty. Keep an eye on them as they’re set to open in 2026.
Most Unique Flavor: Nouvelle Brewing’s Pack Lunch - Who knew peanut butter and jelly could work in a beer?
Top Repeat Pour: Wandering Leaf’s Another Cenobites the Dust - Full of fall flavors I could sip all season long.
Overall MVP: Imminent Brewing - Esperanza - A sour that checks all the boxes: tart, fruity, and easily drinkable.
Comments