Weekend Itinerary to the best beer and food in Fargo - Moorhead
What comes to mind when you think Fargo, ND?
The not so stereotypical Minnesotan accent from the 1996 Coen Brothers film, "Fargo"? And how did we Minnesooootan's get dubbed with this accent when Fargo is in North Dakoooota? Maybe because it was mostly filmed in Minnesota? Either way, there is some truth to the accent, maybe over the top for most, but I do know that it spans further than North Dakota and Minnesota, what about dem dere people in Wisconsin, dontcha know. Not to say we're the same, I mean have you seen "Manitowac Minute?!" Ohh myyy goosh.
Honestly, you'll probably find more people with Minnesotan accents living in Maple Grove than Fargo, ND.
My point is, Fargo - Moorhead is much more than what you might think. The biggest city in NoDak might not be comparable to the size of Minneapolis or St. Paul, but it definitely has a lot of surprises up its sleeve and we're here to share our experience and why we have dubbed this area the 'frozen gem of the midwest'.
Where to Stay in Fargo - Moorhead
We decided to stay downtown Fargo so we could be in walking distance to a few place so we chose the Radisson Hotel. Large, clean rooms with a view of Downtown Fargo.
Breweries to Visit
Well if you know us, the reason we ventured to the frigid North, on the coldest weekend of the year (to date), was to celebrate Jake's Birthday and visit Drekker Brewing & Junkyard Brewing. For the last few years, we started a Birthday tradition to visit a new destination and try as much as their local brews as we can fit in. And despite the cold weather, we couldn't have picked a better weekend because both Drekker and Junkyard had limited releases aka weekend planned!
Drekker Brewing Co.
We started out at Drekker Brewing Co. for their release of not just 1, but 5, yes FIVE releases!
Barrel Aged What Lies Beneath, a Barrel Aged Imperial Stout brewed with loads of cocao, coffee from local favorite Twenty Below and vanilla beans. Barrel Aged in Elijah Craig Bourbon Barrels, this guy has tons of rich flavor, perfect consistency. This was the all around favorite beer of the weekend. It was super limited that when we went back on Saturday to share a pour before hitting a few other breweries, it was sold out on tap. Good thing we arrived just as the doors opened the day before to load up on quite the haul.
Non Barrel Aged What Lies Beneath, delicious, but when you have the Barrel Aged, it's an easy choice.
Multiple Ectogasms Double Dry Hopped IPA, this takes their Ectogasm to another level with double the Mosaic and Citrus hops making this a uber Juicy IPA with a mouthwatering hop profile, making this our second favorite beer of the weekend.
Hyper Scream Nordic Double IPA, this will take your mind off the cold and to the tropics, it's loaded with juicy pineapple flavor and aroma, it should be served with a drink umbrella. Hyper Scream is brewed with a ton of oats and spelt, hopped with CTZ, Citra and Vic Secret and then fermented in Kveik Yeast. Kveik Yeast is a Scandinavian yeast (how fitting of Drekker's heritage) that's been used and passed down in Norway for centuries. It stands out from the crowd by having a high heat tolerance, creating similar flavor profiles even in varying temperatures and packs a great citrus flavor. Keep an eye out for this yeast strain.
Brewed of the North Ancient Grain IPA, a collaboration with Food of the North and Northern Plains Sustainable AG. A portion of the proceeds will go to Food of the North to help reduce food waste and connect people with the food they eat. Great beer for a great cause.
We can't write a post about Drekker without writing about BREWHALLA...no joke, this has to be the coolest taproom we've been to. BIG shout out to Mark, the captain of the Drekker ship and Scientist behind the beer, literally. Thank you for the incredibly informative tour of the taproom and operations and letting us try the upcoming collaboration!
Drekker Brewing began in a garage with 4 friends that shared a love for beer. They opened their doors in 2014 in their (still open) Downtown taproom. Written on the wall
"Drek-ker. noun. A completely made up word based on a combination of the Old Norse words a) "drekka", which means to drink b) "dryyker," which means draught drink and c) "drakkar" the French name for the feared dragon-headed longships that ruled the rivers and seas of Europe during the Viking Age; Hand crafted beer made in small batches here in downtown Fargo by the very people who made up this word. Skål!"
To see where it all began is quite surprising compared to where they are now, but starting small has given them many benefits with their new brewing operation. They were able to custom design their own brewing system knowing what would work best for them and the styles of delicious Hazies and Sours they wanted to brew.
Drekker opened the doors to Brewhalla in September of last year (2018). Just driving up to their second taproom is jaw dropping and to hear that this building was left vacant for decades and how it fell into the hands of Drekker is unbelievable. The origins of the building started in the 1880s as a Northern Pacific Railroad shop, they kept true to the history by reclaiming the original brick walls, wood beams and truces. Just like the building, the name "Brewhalla" is a nod to the roots and heritage of the people of Fargo. Their goal was to create the "coolest beer hall they could ever dream of" and that they did. (period).
We won't give away all their secrets, you'll have to go there yourself, but keep an eye out for events/concerts coming this Summer with their outdoor transformation. And when you do visit, be sure to ask about the meaning behind the large mural in their back room and the quote by Charles Baukowski.
One last tip, you'll probably want to try EVERYTHING on the menu, (trust us) so start with short pours and go from there. Also tours are every Saturday at Noon.
Skål!
Junkyard Brewing
The next day we were all set for Junkyard Brewing's 2 releases:
Barrel Aged Scout Camp S'more Porter, aged in Jack Daniel's Whiskey barrels for 4 months. This guy is exactly how it sounds, flavors of chocolate and graham cracker and roasted marshmallow with a lighter consistency than their King Size, but still thick, rich and very delicious!
Barrel Aged Basement Business Barleywine, aged in Sagamore Rye Whiskey barrels for 9 months. Sweet booziness with aromas of cherries and honey and flavors of caramel and raisins. I'm warming up to Barleywines more and more these days, just like this would warm you up on a ice, cold day.
Junkyard Brewing is just down the road from DT Fargo, in Moorhead, MN. Their beginnings date back to 2012 with a very creative and innovative beginning, to building their own 50 gallon all-grain brewing system and distributing to local establishments before they opened the doors to Junkyard's taproom in 2014. They have since upgraded to a 10 barrel system and still can't keep up with the growing demand as their taproom drinks them dry which is no surprise.
Junkyard is known for their experimental styles and constant rotating tap list and crowler releases, which they'll continue to come out with.
"To truly experiment, you have to get out of your comfort zone," Juhnke said
Not only are their beers creative, their labels are quite a piece of fun playful art, that they've painted all around their taproom, which just expanded in September of last year (2018). They now have more than double the indoor space and added a second bar for the craft beer junkies of the Moorhead - Fargo area and out of town visitors like us.
Like them, we've tried our hand at a little experimentation by mixing beers (thanks to our friend Frank), so you must get to their taproom to try our concoction of Barrel Aged Scout Camp S'more Porter + Imperial King Size Peanut Butter Stout or for a lighter consistency mix either of the two with Big Kahuna an Imperial Coconut Dark Ale. And don't forget about their Sours (which we did not try mixing).
Wild Terra Cider & Brewing
Wild Terra Cider & Brewing is an absolute must see! Even if you're not the hugest cider fan, they'll have something that will be sure to surprise your tastebuds.
"We wanted to capture an adventurous spirit and also touch on where we get our amazing ingredients from for our fermentations, so Wild Terra Cider and Brewing Company came to be."
Wild Terra Cider & Brewing opened it's doors in 2017 in an old horse stable that dates back to the early 1900s. They reused much of the original material from the walls to the tables and joists. Their space truly captures the rustic feel of the old stable with modern and botanical twists, every detail in this place makes me feel at home. If I had to pick a taproom that resemembles me as a person, it would be Wild Terra Cider & Brewing.
Not only is their taproom amazing, their cider menu is unbelievable. Choose from Dry, Semi Sweet, Sweet, Local Craft Beer and even a Mead! They use all sorts of intriguing ingredients from ginger, to prickly pear, elderflower, blueberry, maple syrup and citrus and mosaic hops, these guys will get your tastebuds singing.
So go for a drink, stay for a while.
Fargo Brewing Company
We were able to fit one more brewery in our itinerary, so why not see where Fargo's craft beer movement all started. Fargo Brewing Company started in 2010 in their University Ave location and have since then expanded with their Ale House, where people can enjoy food and beer pairings in South Fargo.
"At Fargo Brewing, we strive to embody the culture we want to live and work in. We put pride in beer, love into our events, and community in our hearts."
We visited their original taproom and was greeted by an impressive mural of their brand logo, a man with a beer in his right hand and grains by his heart. Their space is huge with with picnic table seating and colorful graffiti to liven the place up. We tried their Brunch Buster, an Espresso Vanilla Porter and Migrating Coconuts, a Coconut Oatmeal Milk Stout with loads of coconut flavor. Both great choices for an early afternoon pour, would pair perfectly with brunch, specifically a heaping plate of Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes!
We found out that they had much more on their tap list than their website would make you think, we would definitely recommend checking out Fargo Brewing Co aka the original Fargo Brewery if you have the time.
Where to eat in Fargo - Moorhead?
We did all our eating in Fargo, there were a ton of options and we were lucky to get recommendations that delighted our hungry tummies.
Blackbird Woodfire Pizza
At first sight, Blackbird Woodfire might look like any old woodfire pizza place, but we went with Mark at Drekker's recommendation and we were blown away. He suggested the "Hot Chicka" which is not on their daily menu, but a local favorite. And it's AMAAZING! "Hot Chicka" starts with their handmade dough made with only North Dakota flour and wheat, fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella, super yummy pepperoni that roll up (like the old days), loads of fresh basil and the HONEY! It sounds so simple, but with their fresh, quality ingredients, this pizza blows many popular pizza joints in the cities away. We legit couldn't stop talking about how good it was, a must try!
Wurst Bier Hall
I'm a sucker for a big German pretzel with cheese, but don't typically get too hyped over Wursts (sausage), but we wanted something casual before we went to the old Drekker location which was next door. Wurst Bier Hall has a really fun, young vibe with traditional bier hall seating in a modern day bier hall. And they even have Das Boot, which we obviously didn't partake in with just the two of us, but it was fun seeing everyone else get in on the action.
We started with the smaller Bavarian pretzels sticks vs the Giant Bavarian pretzel that would feed 3-4. I'm a bit of a pretzel snob and don't favor pretzel sticks, but these were freshly made, hot, buttery and oh so good. They serve them with their own flair, Marshmallow Fluff, Jake was a huge fan of the sweet treat, I stuck with the cheese sauce. And their Wursts were delicious! The Cheddar Jalapeño was loaded with peppers and jalapenos and their Sweet Potato Fries, legit the best SPF we've ever had (and you can get a side of the Fluff for dipping!)
Mezzaluna
Mezzaluna was another strong recommendation, more upscale, but with a solid happy hour menu. We got their for their late night happy hour which features 1/2 off starters, soups and salads so we sat in the bar area, but I was really tempted to sit in one of the seashell shaped booths.
The decor is very modern and the service was suburb. The Mezzaluna Burger, the Sea Scallops and Pork Belly all were cooked to perfection. A great option for those looking for quality food and great service. My only regret is not ordering more!
Twenty Below Coffee Co.
I'm no fun when I have bad coffee or no coffee. We contemplating leaving while waiting in the long line, but then I heard someone say "they really know how to pour a good brew here," so we stuck it out. There's a reason the line was long and I'd wait again because they've mastered making a damn good brew. And that's probably why Drekker chose Twenty Below's coffee to brew their "What Lies Beneath" Imperial Stout with.
This is a Fargo must, but make sure you aren't planning to grab a quick one and go because this is the place to be on a Saturday morning.
Sandy's Donuts
We planned to check out the Boiler Room for an early brunch before heading back home, but with the winter storm approaching we opted for Sandy's Donuts. Jake loves donuts so it was an easy choice. We were surprised by how many options Sandy's had, we ended up getting the Classic Sprinkle, Espresso Bean and the Blue Cookie Monster because we are children at heart. These were so so fresh and delicious! A+ donuts in our books.
Activities in Fargo - Moorhead
Even in the dead of winter, we try to make it outside or see something that's true to the areas heritage. And we were lucky to do both because Moorhead's Hjemkomst Center was hosting Frostival. There were snow sculptures, outdoor saunas and sledding.
Inside the Hjemkomst Center is home to the Hjemkomst ("welcoming" in Norwegian) Viking Ship which journeyed from Duluth, MN all the way to Oslo, Norway from 1980-1982. Outside is a ornate replica of the Hopperstad Stave Church of Norway. Both the Viking Ship and Church are works of art with a ton of history for anyone to appreciate.
Fargo - Moorhead is a wrap! Thanks for reading, hope you are now planning dates to visit. As always, we'd love to hear your feedback, places we need to add to our next trip up and/or questions to help you plan your perfect weekend in the 'frozen gem of the midwest'.
Comments