There’s something special about grabbing something to eat from a truck. It’s almost as if there’s a whole culture behind it-- something more genuine and “local” than sitting at your favorite restaurant. Combine that tasty magic with a seasonally rotating taproom, and you’ve found the recipe for a good time.
With the street food scene booming in Minneapolis, and our local breweries serving up seasonal treats before we can say, “Cheers!” it’s no wonder the two have come together in perfect harmony.
Robert Kasak, brewer and co-founder of 612Brew, shared a little bit about what it was like to work with the local food truck scene:
“We’ve been partnering with the food truck scene for the last six years. It becomes a symbiotic relationship-- quid pro quo. Food trucks need a place to park, and we need a venue to serve food on our premises.
Without a food option, guests don’t stay very long. With a food option, guests stay twice as long. When people drink, they get hungry.
But, the best part of having food trucks at breweries is that the menus rotate all the time. You could have beef poutine one day and woodfired pizza the next. Plus, we get to know the local food truck owners as co-workers and friends.
They’re a part of the vibrant scene that is breweries and it’s what makes breweries so enticing to people. People go to taprooms because they want to experience something new. That’s what gives people a different look and feel than going to local restaurants. It’s a constant, ever-changing experience.”
Hungry for more? We’ve put together a few food truck-brewery pairing suggestions to help you start your culinary journey through the street food scene of Minneapolis.
Session Dark is one of 612Brew’s year-round offerings, described as “smooth, dark and roasty while being incredibly drinkable.” Featuring pronounced flavors of chocolate, coffee, and caramel, this dark ale pairs beautifully with the smoky flavors you’ll find at The Smoking Cow.
Maple Date Pork Skewers are never a bad option. Tender pork belly is perfectly complemented by the sweet nuttiness of maple and dates. It’s a match made in late night cravings heaven.
The Cobbler Imperial Lager contains a peach and apple reduction to bring Autumn into full swing, at Headflyer Brewing. This brew is a tasty part of their Beyond the Door small batch series. Drink the Cobbler Imperial Lager with a hearty perfect mate, like a traditional Argentinian beef empanada, made with “quality beef, onions, red peppers, potatoes, and green olives,” from DelSur Empanadas Lomitos. This combination will bring inner warmth and liquid sunshine to a chilly metro night.
Surly Brewing’s Angry Nap is a juicy blend of hops, featuring the flavors of Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic hops. The uniqueness of an IPA is that its bitter-sweet flavors tend to fan the flames of spicy umami flavors, then offer soothing relief by the end of the sip.
Pairing it with the Korean-fusion Outlaw tacos, boasting the big flavors of roasted pork, kimchi, jalapeno apple slaw, and crema, means you’ll experience big flavors made even better by a refreshing drink of this limited edition IPA.
The thirst quenching Standard is a gorgeous take on the worldwide favorite. Brewed right here in Minnesota, the Standard perfectly complements foods that aren’t going to overwhelm its subtly savory flavors. It will easily pick up the flavors of fresh herbs and veg, like lemongrass and cilantro.
Pairing with KCM EggRoll’s fresh Spring Rolls offers just the flavors you’re palate is seeking. Delicate rice noodles, thinly sliced pork, and a burst of herby cilantro and ginger create a springtime bite even in the dead of winter.
Stouts can hold up to rich flavors, and Sisyphus’ Peanut Butter Jackpot is no exception. With creamy, dark peanut butter flavors amped up with the natural chocolatey notes found in a stout, it’s best to find a treat that tastes in kind. Delicious desserts, ones that aren’t too sweet, will crank the flavor up to 11 without overwhelming your tastebuds.
That’s where Original Hockey Mom’s Brownie’s Caramel Espresso Brownie makes its way onto the scene. Offering a tender dark chocolate brownie infused with a smooth coffee flavor with vanilla frosting, chocolate shavings, and a caramel drizzle, it’s the perfect balance of bitter bite with sugary goodness.
What better pairing with a German beer than a German pastry. Celebrate Minnesota’s heritage with Bad Weather’s take on a classic lager from the Dortmund region of Germany. Crafted to please the working class citizens of the area, this brew brings together sweet, spicy, and bitter into a crispy, yet malty, golden beer.
The flaky pastry, local fruit, and perfectly blended spices of the Strawberry Rhubarb strudel strike a keen balance with the lager. You’ll want to kick your work boots off and bask in the bright bite of rhubarb, paired perfectly with a lager that works as hard as you do.