My go to brewery in the summer! Back channel is right on lake Minnetonka, making it the perfect spot to enjoy some great drinks while relaxing by the lake. They have beers, THC seltzers, and some N/A drinks on their menu, making this a great spot for anyone to enjoy! They are also dog friendly so be prepared to encounter some adorable pups. Even on their really busy days, they are fast with getting you your drinks and always so kind when ordering. read more

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One of my favorite breweries in the area and I wish I lived closer. The taproom is not too big but they've got an enormous patio where they roll a giant screen out to show most relevant sporting events. The whole place is dog-friendly and there are treats for pups and humans alike. You can usually find a food truck parked outside and in the colder months they've got a sauna you can rent time in. The staff is all fantastic and most of the time it's either the owner or a brewer who is pouring you the drinks. They also do a lot of events giving back to the community. One of the few places I 100% think is worth the 30 minute drive. read more

Back Channel Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

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Awesome location and our kind of rustic looking brewery. We are huge fans of chalk boards. The beer was great! We sat out in the yard to take in the view. Not much interaction with staff, but what little we did was friendly and positive. Such a great location for the area. We will definitely return if in the area! read more

Absolutely love this west-side brewery! Right on the water with plenty of outdoor seating, a large screen, and a popular food truck. We brought in food from Josefina in Wayzata and enjoyed being outside! It was decently busy at 4:30 on a Saturday, but the beer line went fast and we easily found a spot. I loved their N/A Kolsch and the Fruited Wheat Ale. Definitely could see us spending an afternoon here watching a sports game or playing cards. The staff was super nice too, I bought a sweatshirt and they helped me pick out the right size and were super talkative. Definitely will be back! read more

Back Channel Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

I honestly don't know what had taken us so long to go here!!! It's only 15 minutes from our house and I love the atmosphere! The inside of the brewery was so cute and welcoming! They offer a great lineup of their own beers and had a food truck while we were there! I also know they are well known for their sauna and experience. Can't wait to come back here in the summer and try some more of their fantastic beers. The beers we had last night were very good read more

Back Channel Brewing - West coast IPA and Fruit beer - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

Maybe my favorite western burbs brewery. Such a great outdoor space, good beer, and lots of good NA options for kids and non-drinkers. Our beertender went out of his way to recommend the slushee for my four year old, which felt so welcoming to younger guests! read more

Back Channel Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

As brewery lovers, I can't believe we hadn't been here before! This is probably our new favorite brewery! They had SO many beer and THC drink options. SO many. I was especially happy to see a variety of lagers rather than IPAs like most breweries are going to. They are right on the channel that feeds a small lake into lake Minnetonka. I could sit outside and enjoy the view all day! Plenty of seating indoors and a TON outdoors too. They had a huge screen up outside when we were there playing the wolves game, GREAT addition. There are TVs inside too. The staff was friendly and quick. Fun merch and snacks available. I don't think they have food food, but check their events page for food trucks. 10/10 stop this summer. read more

Back Channel Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

I think Back Channel has one of THE best selections of beers that I've come across. You never get bored, and they are all pretty good. It's great to be able to sit outside and watch the boats go by. I wouldn't mind a little more food choices, but there usually are food trucks there as well. read more

A summer go to spot! With beautiful views of Lake Minnetonka, one of the only brewery locations on the water. Featuring live music and food trucks weekly! Great staff, friendly service and fun atmosphere perfect for summer catch ups! Has a huge parking lot as well as a great kid friendly and dog friendly area. Next time you're there, check out the beer in a bowl. read more

Back Channel Brewing - Homemade seltzer - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

"We really liked the brewery itself - nice spot with a good selection of beers. We're from out of town and one of our favorite things to do when we travel is visit local breweries, try the beers, and bring some merchandise home. Unfortunately, the person behind the counter was less than welcoming and didn't seem very interested in answering our questions about the beers. It made the experience less enjoyable than we had hoped. We still liked the location and atmosphere, but the service kept it from being the great experience it could have been." read more

Back Channel Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

It was a bustling brewery on a Friday night. We did the sauna experience before heading into the brewery. The inside is small, on a Friday night at 7pm there were very few spots. The bartenders were super knowledgeable and friendly. They allow THC consumption onsite. The Green Party is the best tasting THC drink I've had, it was fruity and flavorful without the THC taste. They had a good truck, parlour, which had to die for burgers. They have plenty of parking. In the summer they have good patio spots. There were people inside the brewery with dogs. I would highly recommend the sauna experience. It was a perfect place for a date night. read more

Back Channel Brewing - Sauna experience right outside the brewery - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

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Fun place out West to hang out! What? Yes, the music blaring on a Sunday afternoon was a bit much, but maybe that makes you drink more? Or leftover from pumping up the football fans? Not sure. Made it tough to have a conversation. But the beer and the Parlour burgers made it worthwhile even if I had to nod at my friends and smile because I couldn't hear a word they said. Maybe I am getting old, but sonny in my day you could have a nice convo over beers on a lovely fall afternoon without shouting over the speakers. Clearly they are doing a great business because they were quite busy even after the footballers cleared out. Love the large free lot, the view of the lake, definitely going to try it out in the warmer months when I can sit outside and hear myself drink. Still delicious beer and eats so worth the drive. read more

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After getting off the boat, we stopped into the brewery for one last drink. The male bartender working on June 13th around 10:40 pm, greeted all 9 of us paying costumers with, "what do you want?" They do not offer anything but beer. Totally okay, however, the bartender was rude when asked about this. Most of us are from out of state, so we are used to breweries around us normally having other options. I made this clear to the bartender, who responded by saying "well not here." After discussing this with the bartender, who had a horrible attitude, we decided to leave. It was a very disappointing and disrespectful experience. He continued to bad mouth us to other paying customers as we were heading out. If I could leave a 0 star review, I would. read more

I'm a huge fan! The space is large and inviting, and the drink menu is LONG! The gluten free sour was phenomenal and a fun change of pace.

Over the weekend I participated in a Charcuterie Class ran by From the Diner. Learned a lot about how to make a Grazing Plate / Charcuterie Board including the cheeses that should be included, how to make a rose from Salami, and where to position items to make a full plate. I highly recommend taking a class from her when they are put on at breweries, wineries, or private classes. The class was put on at Back Channel brewery where I tried multiple beers ranging from some stout offerings to IPAs - all packed with flavor. THUNDER BUDS Rain: This Barrel Aged Imperial Stout was in collaboration with Drekker Brewing out of Fargo, South Dakota. It was aged in Appleton Rum Barrels which gives it a unique vanilla characteristic not present in the other versions of THUNDER BUDS. Mild roastiness and bitterness paired with a hint of sweetness and explosion of vanilla and molasses from the barrel. Time Travel: A IPA in collaboration with Dimension Brewing. Huge tropical fruit (pineapple, guava, and passionfruit) takes over the tastebuds with a moderately high juicy citrus / tropical fruit aroma. Even with so much tropical juice flavor it does not get overwhelmed with sweetness as there is a medium-low bitterness that gives some balance. The use of Phantasm makes the aromatics and flavor more intense with some white grape notes as well. Very enjoyable on a sunny patio worthy MN day. Both the brewery and the class were a pairing made for eachother. read more

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Being pressed for time being out of town the owners were pleasant enough to allow us the air conditioned brewery a few minutes early. After posting up to the bar the red carpet treatment ensued. We were treated to a delicious hazy juicy fresh IPA called JABS a five star beer !Two of the five owners chatted with us about their beers and the brewery's concept such as the logo. If you live in Minnesota and are passionate about beer make the journey here. The brewery would be in my Minnesota top five if I was pressed to make a list of great MN craft breweries. Thank you for your hospitality to me and my family. Would love to see more Minnesota breweries open earlier though lol . read more

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Great atmosphere, great beer and great service. What more can I say. Stopped in for a quick drink and was surprised by the large outdoor seating area with a giant tv. The perfect spot to stop to catch a game coming off the lake. read more

My friends can finally cease hassling me, I made the Mound drive...and... it didn't disappoint!! I liked all the options... sit inside or outside. I opted for two flight to taste most of the offerings and wasn't disappointed by any of them! The staff were all friendly and helpful when I asked about beers and their favorites when building the flights! Thanks Mound for making the drive worth it!!! It did seem to get a little loud...not sure if that was just the people or people trying to talk over the music? Not annoyingly loud just...noticeable. Cheers Back Channel! read more

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Excellent brews with a lake view. Regular food truck options. Friendly and helpful staff. read more

Back Channel Brewing - Great patio views - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

Friendly atmosphere and real good dark beers. It's a neighborhood kind of place. Fun and a humongous tv outside.

Great place to gather. Outdoor large screen TV showing current events (sports). Great selection of drinks along with food truck in parking lot. Indoor and outdoor seating. Only complaint in that the music is annoyingly loud - way to loud to have a good conversation. read more

Bartender was extremely rude the entire time we were in there. After we left, we were waiting for our party to finish using the bathroom. He continued to talk rudely to other customers in the bar. read more

Beer is essential COVID-19 can suck it Third pick-up today I went to Back Channel once shortly after they opened. As is often the case with new breweries I thought it was alright but nothing special. Since then, I have been able to sample many of their beers at other locales, usually Ansari's in Eagan. They have really stepped up their game and are making some killer product. If you like sour beers, the collaboration that they do with Ansari's is amazeballs. Five stars on Untappd all the way. IPA's they are putting out now are all dynamite as well. If you think people are going crazy now, imagine what would happen if they cut off the hooch. We would be talking riots and not protests. I have been out to Back Channel once a week now for the past three weeks for curbside pickup. Go online to place your order. Drive up to the north side of the building, pop your trunk and flash your ID and badda bing badda boom you are on your way. The drive out there around and through Lake Minnetonka is pretty scenic as well. You know, in a Minnesota kind of way. read more

Back Channel Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

Listen.. I have said this is my favorite brewery for years.. Even when I lived farther away. They're always rotating beers and the Empress never disappoints - it's a lighter beer with new flavors all the time. I also love their Ursula NE IPA and Crushin' Dishes Cream Ale. They have great patio space with lake views for the summer. The staff is amazing, too! They always have great insight if you're not sure what you're in the mood for. Couldn't amp this place up more! read more

Back Channel Brewing - a glass of beer on a wooden table - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

Location location location!! I can't think of a better spot to enjoy a beer or 2. You can pull your boat right up out back. They have food trucks that are amazing and the employees are great. We got a flight and let her choose and they were all good! Inside is nice with plenty of seating. We will definitely be back soon. read more

If you frequently visit microbreweries (I'm trying to have a beer at every one in Minnesota, but more keep opening!), and you rely on Yelp! to help you identify breweries, then you'll know that it is highly unusual for a brewery to achieve a 5-star rating. Back Channel (located on one of the many navigation channels connecting various parts of Lake Minnetonka) resides in a lovely venue, looking out over Seton Lake, with some great outdoor seating and a warm interior that fosters interactions with other customers. Plus, it is conveniently located about 9 miles west of Wayzata just off of the smooth, flat Dakota Trail, making this an ideal rest stop for the casual cyclist (more advanced cyclers can use this as a final "reward" stop on their way back from points further west). Location and venue are all well and good, but I'm not giving any brewery a 5-star rating unless the beer offerings can stand on their own. For the first year or two of operation, I was only intermittently impressed, but they've stepped up their game the past few years, with a number of IPAs and Stouts that stand out against the competition (check 'em out on Untappd). My only concern is that some of these beers are so "big" that you have to be careful about how fast you ingest (a challenge I'm willing to take on)! Parking has never been an issue. In fact, sometimes it is more difficult to lock up your bike on a warm weekend afternoon, while cars can overflow to the adjacent strip mall lot. Food trucks seem to be there with some regularity, but I have not taken advantage of them to date. Twin Cities denizens need to widen their horizons and explore the western (and northwestern) burbs with their expanding brewery scene, with Back Channel a worthy stopover. read more

This is our new favorite brewery! They are dog and pet friendly! We have introduced many friends to back channel. Parking is great and there's plenty of space! Their beer is amazing and the staff are EXTREMELY kind!! read more

Excellent product from this lake Minnetonka brewery. We tried the Poppin Bury Pils and the 10 letter word IPA. Both really well made, especially the pils. The IPA is a hazy New England style and also great. The patio backs up to a lake Minnetonka channel. So you can sit lakeside and enjoy the view. Plenty of options for food with the Minnetonka Drive In right across the street, and of course the food trucks on site. They are dog friendly too. We were there on Friday afternoon and it was crowded. But the space inside and out can accommodate a lot of folks, so it didn't seem like it. Definitely worth a drive out to Mound to try their great beers and enjoy the i. read more

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Back Channel has always had great beer and atmosphere, but I always wanted to stop in and watch a game on their outdoor big screen I finally got the chance last Sunday night when the Vikings played the Packers. The fog and mild temps (and beer) made it a great place to watch the game. There was one major annoyance however. We had to listen to some guy with a microphone give a constant rambling commentary on the game. While I appreciate that he was rooting for my Vikings, we finally had to leave because his commentary was loud, obnoxious, completely unhelpful, distracting, and unrelentingly annoying. The beer and service were great as always, but I hope they take the mic away from that guy before the Vikings reach the Super Bowl! read more

Great beer, beautiful scenery and fun atmosphere! We have been being recommended Back Channel for years and finally made the trip out. It did not disappoint! It is right on the lake and therefore half of the patrons had just stepped off their snowmobiles! Would highly recommend! We tried their HOT Apple Cider Seltzer which was super fun, in addition to Moneybags - Fruited Berliner w/Marionberry, Prickly Pear & Pomegranate, Troopship - Old Ale and Schlägen - Märzen read more

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Their beers are fantastic and they've got a great arrangement with Hibachi Daruma a nearby restaurant where you order in the brewery and a super nice dude picks it up and delivers to your table. Amazing Asian-style bowls which elevate the brewery experience. The staff is great, ambiance always buzzing and in the summer a great patio accessible by boat on Lake Minnetonka. read more

This is one of my favorite breweries in Minnesota! The staff are great and they have a great selection of beers. You can always count on it being an upbeat atmosphere with a great patio area. read more

Back Channel Brewing - Empress - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

My neighborhood has a great craft brew pub! There is a good variety of beers, 10 when I was there. They get busy so arrive early....their website lists if there will be a food truck. A big patio and the best view is all the way in back by the channel. The servers are super friendly and they sell crowlers to go! read more

Great Spring Park location next to Seton Channel and across the street from the Dakota Trail (and the Minnetonka Drive-in). The south side of the brewery opens up to the deck and Lake Minnetonka thanks to garage doors that run the length of the tap room. The beers I've tried have all been good and they have a pretty regular schedule of food trucks. It will be interesting to see if I can still get a seat once the summer boating season starts, until then - I'll be back! read more

Back Channel Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

My wife and I were out for a weekend lunch and decided to try a new tap room, Back Channel Brewing. Russell's Traveling food truck was there and I got the Pho French Dip sandwich for $12. Not bad, not great, but good. It is right on the lake and it was super hot, so we decided to sit inside. They had a pretty eclectic selection of beers, so I decided on a freshly made IPA and it was delicious. Recreational Foam. Super hoppy and refreshing. I had a second beer, called The Art Baron. Pretty dark and a hoppy lager, but it was also fantastic. The malt and the hops did a little dance together to make a happy little medium. The bartenders were awesome and they gave me a couple of stickers for my collection. (Really cool logo too) They are dog friendly, so there were probably 4 or 5 dogs in the place in case allergies are an issue for you. Great place though! read more

Back Channel Brewing - Recreational Foam IPA - Breweries Near Me - Spring Park, Minnesota

Love this place. Being on the lake to people watch and boat watch is excellent. The food trucks they have are great. The beer is excellent

I hesitate to write this, in case other boaters become aware of one of the coolest breweries that you could say is in the lake, verses say Wayzata Brew Works on the rim, or Excelsior Brewing in downtown Excelsior. I have been here a bunch of times. The first time we sought it out, which was very confusing actually finding it. It really is in a back channel. Well, by car it is right there across from Minnetonka Drive-in. I will say that the dock hand(s) are super nice and helpful. They seem more mature and perhaps helpful than say the younglings that assist at Maynard's and Lord Fletchers (I would say LF is a bar/restaurant in the middle of the lake). Then again l, there are what, four slips. Watch for the Green flag. That is all I will say. This time I got to pay it forward when a departing boater was stuck in the slip. I pulled out my new Costco battery jumper ($60) and jumped her so she could get out without an expensive tow. That made her, Jacob the super nice dockhand and the new boating customer happy. I have been towed before. It sucks. Carry jumpers. Their beer is as unique and good as say Unmapped Brewing. I give three the nod for the best Lake Minnetonka lake brewery. I just wish they sold growlers and not crowlers. This is the place we take our craft brew drinking friends. Seriously. Everyone else, Lord Fletchers and Maynard's. Unless there is no boat parking. I have seriously thought about dropping my wife and friends off at the dock, and then just throwing an anchor out in the adjacent bay and swimming over. Food is via Minnetonka Drive-In. My wife and friends all bitch about the food app, but they do deliver to the brewery. That was last year. Today, the brewery was packed inside and out, more so than I have ever seen it, so we walked across the street and ate at the picnic tables. Then went back over for libations. So, bartending, great decor, fabulous beer, dock service (please drive a car so I don't have to compete), great service, crowlers, all five stars. Today I had a Unified IPA, which they say is a New England IPA, but I think it is more of an unfiltered hazy IPA. Outstanding. I had to suffer with only a $4 small because I was boating. I got a Lorenzo triple IPA crowlers for home ... drinking it now. Awesome. read more

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I'm glad we stopped here when we were out in this neck of woods! Great spot with patio space overlooking the back channel. Beers are all good, on the lighter Abv side which is nice when you bring your kids. Plenty of NA options for kids and snacks too! read more

Good brews and fun rotating seltzers! The outdoor area is great to sit in in the summer. Several others had pulled their boats up with ease. Great place! read more

Love back channel! Great location to just get off the boat and grab some beer and food. You can get food from a food truck or walk across the street to the Minnetonka Drive In. They are family and pet friendly. They offer some seats under a tent, but it's typically busy. read more