Last August, Indeed Brewing turned five years old, a big accomplishment for any startup company. It’s also astonishing how much the Northeast Minneapolis brewery has grown in half a decade. In the early days, Indeed’s lineup leaned heavily on hop-forward beers like Day Tripper pale ale and Midnight Ryder black IPA. Today, the taproom, located at 711 15th Ave. NE in Minneapolis, boasts over a dozen offerings, some hop-heavy and fitting of the American craft movement, but others are complex wood-aged sours or traditional European styles. Indeed is modern, diverse, and always high quality.

As one of the fastest-growing Minnesota breweries of the recent boom, they’ve been available in Rochester for a while, but it’s still mostly cans of their flagship beers, seasonal offerings, and a rotating IPA selection. Sought after beers like Rum King, Mexican Honey Imperial Lager or Lavender Sunflower Date Honey Ale are harder to come by the further one gets from Minneapolis, but are worth it if you manage to find them.

Besides their beer, a brewery visit offers a glimpse into a unique brand. Indeed’s artistic cans highlight their one-of-a-kind style. Artist Chuck U’s paintings adorn the cans as well as the taproom, which lacks a view of Indeed’s brewhouse but makes up for it with well-worn brick charm and a direct view of Northeast’s still active railroads. It’s industrial, yet quaint and neighborhood-friendly, tucked off the alleyway-esque Quincy Avenue and its overly-weathered cobblestone. The soft and natural wood accents give a watering hole vibe and has a free shuffleboard table, inviting people to come and stay awhile.

The Beers

Let It Roll (winter IPA) has a notable malt bill that sets it apart from the hazy trend. While it registers 86 IBU, it’s not a mouth puckering bitterness either. Instead, the sweet malt core blends with soft tropical and zesty citrus flavors. Old Friend highlights the brewery’s adventurous streak. It’s a winter warmer ale, 7.5% ABV, with strong ginger and spruce notes and a hidden Christmas orange underneath. The Wooden Soulseries is a major part of the brand, featuring a rotating lineup of Brett beers with a wild funk and different fruity infusions.

Food and more

The taproom is open Wednesday through Sunday, usually with a food truck onsite. For those who want to try as many places as possible, they encourage pairing their beer with local takeout from Holy Land or Maya Kitchen, both relatively close by. Hai Hai Vietnamese is on University and serves an exclusive take on Indeed’s B-Side Pils, and Young Joni is a decorated and popular pizza-plus restaurant.

Additional dining options include Dusty’s, Draft Horse, Aki’s BreadHaus, and Uncle Franky’s hot dogs. If you’re looking for a brewery crawl, Northeast is the place to be. Along with Indeed, you’ll find Dangerous Man, Able, Bauhaus, and 612Brew, just to name a few.