The Top Craft Beer Giants in Minnesota Right Now
If you’re looking for the biggest names in Minnesota craft beer, these breweries top the list in 2025. From longtime favorites to bold innovators, here’s who’s leading the way in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
There are a ton of new craft breweries all across Minnesota these days, but the biggest brewery in the state is a familiar name that's been here a while. And three of Minnesota's breweries aren't just the largest here in the North Star State, they're actually among some of the largest in the entire country.
The Brewers Association is a not-for-profit trade group that represents small and independent craft brewers across the country. And earlier this year, they released their annual survey of the 50 largest craft brewing companies in the U.S., based on beer sales volume.
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And Minnesota has several entries on the list. Three to be exact. And if you like to tip back a pint of Minnesota-produced suds, they're some pretty familiar names. Try August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, which came in at #22 on the list this year. Then there's Summit Brewing Company of St. Paul, which came in at #34, and Surly Brewing Company of Minneapolis, which made the list at #39 in 2025.
Those three breweries sold a *lot* of beer in 2024. For instance, Shell's sold over 108,000 barrels last year, Axios Twin Cities said, while Summit sold over 76,000 barrels and Surly topped over 52,000 barrels.
Axios Twin Cities also took a look at the Brewers Association list and created a list of the top ten breweries in the North Star State-- even those that didn't crack the largest breweries in the nation list this year:
Top 10 Craft Breweries in Minnesota in 2025 (based on beer sales volume)
- August Schell Brewing Company - New Ulm
- Summit Brewing Company - St. Paul
- Surly Brewing Company - Minneapolis
- Castle Danger Brewery - Two Harbors
- Fulton Beer - Minneapolis
- Third Street Brewhouse - Cold Spring
- Lift Bridge Brewing Company - Stillwater
- Indeed Brewing Company - Minneapolis
- Bent Paddle Brewing Company - Duluth
- Fair State Brewing Cooperative - Minneapolis
Now, if you're not a fan of fermented malt beverages but instead enjoy a nice glass of wine, you're not alone. As it turns out, Minnesotans *also* like to enjoy a bottle of vino every now and again. Keep scrolling to see just how much wine we bought here in the Bold North in each month throughout 2024. And hint, hint-- it's a lot!
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Amount of Wine Sold in Minnesota in 2024
Gallery Credit: Curt St. John
