If you’ve spent any time exploring the adorable lakeside town of Excelsior, you already know it has that perfect small-town Minnesota charm. Cute shops, great restaurants, views of Lake Minnetonka, and an atmosphere that somehow feels both lively and laid back at the same time. Every time we visit, we end up finding another reason to love it.
We’ve always loved visiting Excelsior because it’s one of those towns that somehow always has something new to discover. Between the great restaurants, fun local boutiques, lakeside views, and unique small businesses, it’s such an easy place to spend an afternoon just walking around and seeing where the day takes you.
Every time we visit, we end up finding a new shop, restaurant, or hidden gem that makes us want to come back again.
One of our favorite stops in town is Excelsior Brewing Company. It’s casual, welcoming, and exactly the kind of place where you can spend an hour or two relaxing with friends after walking around downtown.
This time we stopped in just for drinks, but honestly, this brewery has become one of those places we always recommend whenever friends ask for fun breweries near Minneapolis.
Why We Love Excelsior Brewing
The first thing we always notice about Excelsior Brewing is how relaxed it feels. There’s no pressure to dress up, no overly trendy vibe, and no giant complicated beer menu that makes you feel like you need a brewery certification to order something.
It’s just a fun local brewery with good drinks, friendly people, and a great location in one of our favorite Minnesota towns.
The taproom has that classic brewery feel with plenty of seating, a welcoming atmosphere, and a mix of locals and visitors hanging out together. Depending on the weather, it’s also a great stop after spending time by the lake or walking through downtown Excelsior.
If you’re planning a Minnesota brewery trip, this is definitely one worth adding to your list.
What We Drank
One of the best parts about visiting local breweries is trying a few different things, and this visit gave us a good mix of beer and seltzer options.
Citrus Blonde Ale
The Citrus Blonde Ale was probably the easiest-drinking beer of the group. It was light, crisp, refreshing, and had just enough citrus flavor without being overpowering.
This felt like the perfect beer for sitting outside on a warm Minnesota afternoon. If you like approachable beers that aren’t too heavy or bitter, this is a great option.
Lil Wavy Hazy IPA
We also tried the Lil Wavy Hazy IPA, which had that smooth, juicy flavor hazy IPA fans usually love. It was flavorful without feeling too intense, and it had a really easy finish that made it super drinkable.
Even if you’re not normally a huge IPA person, this one feels a little more approachable than some of the extra-hoppy options out there.
Black Cherry Seltzer
The Black Cherry Seltzer was another fun surprise. It was light, refreshing, and had a nice cherry flavor without tasting overly sweet or artificial.
Sometimes breweries can feel limited if you aren’t fully in the mood for beer, so it’s always nice when they have solid seltzer options too.
The Beer I Took Home
One beer I really wanted to try while we were there was the Hop Waves Hazy IPA. The only problem? It has a slightly higher alcohol content, and since I still had driving to do later, I decided to play it safe and bring some home instead.
Honestly, that ended up being the perfect solution. I still got to try the beer I was excited about, just later when I could fully relax and enjoy it without worrying about driving anywhere afterward.
And if you’ve ever visited breweries around Minnesota, you know taking home a few cans from a brewery you love is basically part of the experience anyway.
Outdoor Seating at Excelsior Brewing
One thing we always love about Excelsior Brewing Company is the outdoor seating area. They have picnic tables outside that make it such a fun place to hang out when the weather is nice.
On warm Minnesota afternoons or summer evenings, it’s honestly hard to beat sitting outside with a cold drink after walking around downtown Excelsior. The outdoor space keeps that same relaxed, casual vibe as the taproom and feels super welcoming whether you’re stopping in for one quick drink or hanging out for a while with friends.
It also makes the perfect setup if you’re bringing in food from nearby restaurants. We’ve brought pizza from Olive’s Fresh Pizza before, and sitting outside at the picnic tables with pizza and local beer just feels like a perfect Minnesota summer afternoon.
You Can Bring in Food From Nearby Restaurants
One thing we really love about Excelsior Brewing is that you can bring in food from local restaurants nearby. That makes it such an easy place to hang out for a while because you can pair your drinks with whatever sounds good that day.
In the past, we’ve brought over pizza from Olive’s Fresh Pizza, which was honestly an excellent brewery combo. Pizza and craft beer are a always a good idea.
This visit we only stopped in for drinks, but it’s nice knowing you can easily turn it into a full meal if you want to stay longer.
There are several restaurants within walking distance, which is another reason this brewery fits so perfectly into a day exploring downtown Excelsior.
A Perfect Stop During a Day in Excelsior
Part of what makes this brewery so fun is the location. You can spend the day walking around downtown, checking out local shops, hanging by the lake, or grabbing dinner nearby, then stop into the brewery to relax for a bit.
Excelsior itself is one of those towns we never get tired of visiting. It has such a fun energy without feeling overly busy, and it’s especially beautiful during the warmer months.
If you’re looking for:
- A casual Minnesota brewery
- A fun day trip from the Twin Cities
- Great local drinks
- A relaxed atmosphere
- A brewery where you can bring in food
…then Excelsior Brewing checks all the boxes.
Is Excelsior Brewing Worth Visiting?
Absolutely.
What we love most is that it feels casual and genuinely local. Sometimes breweries can feel overly trendy or crowded, but Excelsior Brewing keeps things simple in the best possible way.
Good drinks, a great location, a relaxed atmosphere, and the ability to pair your beer with pizza from nearby restaurants? That’s pretty hard to beat.
Whether you’re a craft beer fan, someone who prefers lighter drinks like seltzers, or just looking for a fun stop while exploring Excelsior, this brewery is definitely worth checking out.
Location
Excelsior Brewing Company
421 3rd Street
Excelsior, MN 55331
Tips for Visiting Excelsior Brewing
- Visit during a downtown Excelsior day trip for the full experience
- Bring in food from nearby restaurants if you’re hungry
- Try a mix of beer and seltzer options
- Grab some cans to take home if there’s a higher ABV beer you want to try later
- Arrive earlier on busy summer weekends if you want easier seating
- Create your own custom drink flight
Parking at Excelsior Brewing
Parking in downtown Excelsior can sometimes get a little busy during summer weekends, but luckily Excelsior Brewing Company has a really convenient parking option nearby.
There’s a parking lot right next to the brewery on 3rd Street, which makes stopping in super easy whether you’re just grabbing a quick drink or spending the afternoon exploring downtown Excelsior. We always appreciate when parking doesn’t turn into a whole adventure, especially in popular lake towns during the warmer months.
Final Thoughts
We always enjoy visiting Excelsior, and Excelsior Brewing is one of the places that keeps us coming back. It’s easygoing, fun, and feels like the kind of brewery where you can instantly relax the second you walk in.
And honestly, sometimes that’s exactly what you want from a brewery.
More Craft Breweries to Visit
If you love discovering fun local breweries as much as we do, here are a few other brewery spots we’ve shared:
- Chapel Brewing in Dundas, MN – A cozy brewery with great beer and a relaxed small-town atmosphere near Northfield.
- Tanzenwald Brewing Company in Northfield, MN – One of our favorite breweries for unique beers, good food, and a fun downtown location.
- Forager Brewery in Rochester, MN – A super popular Minnesota brewery known for creative craft beer and amazing pizza.
- Fulton Brewing in Minneapolis, MN – A great Twin Cities brewery with a fun taproom and an awesome spot to hang out before a game or concert.
- Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. in Decorah, IA – A must-visit Midwest brewery known for incredible IPAs and one of the biggest names in craft beer.
