Midwest Supplies needs a massive overhaul on their on-line ordering system. Customer support is…read morehandled via email. They claim to return an answer to your email within 48 hours. Trying to have a meaningful dialogue on any subject with a 48 hour delay between questions, answers, and follow-ups is super frustrating. Most companies use a live chat and accept phone calls, especially for complex questions. My issue dealt with using 2 gift cards that I received. One was a gift and the other was a card for a store credit. I cannot get them to work in their billing system. After several 48 hour delayed conversations, I have no resolution. I cannot access $300 sitting in their accounts. Back to the 48 hour delay. When I tried their fixes on how to use the gift cards, they did not work. So, I had another 48 hour delay to explain that their fix did not work and await comments on what to try next. Still no resolution. Finally, their policy of -- NO REFUNDS, only store credits -- is exceptionally difficult to deal with.

This was a horrid experience. I ordered soda syrup from them which turned out to be mostly water…read more Then, when I contacted them about it, they basically told me I was doing it wrong. In order to make the syrup useable, I'm having to boil it down since they have no return policy they actually keep up with. The syrup I'm left with is 1/3rd of what I should have out of a gallon jug. So I paid way more money than if I would've just made it from scratch myself. Terrible customer service. Will never buy from them again. Not only this but they delete the bad reviews from their website. These people have horrible business practices and even worse customer service. I started with the soda syrup so I could judge their services before I started ordering wine parts from them. Suffice to say, they will not be getting any more of my business. Edit 3/5/23: Update. Refund was issued shortly after reviewing. Two stars were added for customer service.

This is basically last man standing brick-and-mortar homebrew supply store in the Minneapolis area…read more From the outside it looks like it's operating out of an extra truck loading bay that the mattress store next door rented out. Inside it pretty much looks exactly like a truck loading bay with shelving built in, but you will find what you need. The guys working here are quite helpful but the fellow behind the register will scold you like a kid if you break any rules. I'm giving it four stars instead of three because once this place disappears I'm going to have to drive an hour to the next nearest supply store, or (worse) order grain online.

Lots of cool toys. Very much like an old fashioned toy store. Some RC stuff and an expert that…read morerepairs RC stuff. Good selection of parts. Balsa wood stock and paints on hand. There is a home brewing section that has started sets and refill stuff. They have a decent selection of beer brewing mixes and various bottles. Not much for model railroads, but a little bit of stuff and they have various scratch building supplies.

Traxxas fans will find that this is their local shop. No Arrma products except maybe a few parts…read more Good for RC cars and other hobbies

I FINALLY made it to the new(er) brewery in the Twin Cities, Brew Lab 101. This is a second…read morelocation of the brewery, the first being in New Mexico. They are bringing that south of the border flair with them with Mexican Food and beers that pair well with the spices. I had a flight of a handful of their beers to see what is going on in this small brewery. Sexi NuMexi: A Mexican Lager that is light bodied and subtle, but has a nice sweetness on the finish that clings to the palate in just the right way. Ope: An India Pale Ale that they call a "Midwest-Style IPA". Super drinkable with a nice malty backbone that is heavier in caramel and biscuit flavors than the Hazys and West Coast styles that are predominantly making it around the States. 505: A Mexican Lager dosed with Chile, Lime, and Salt. I don't get a lot of salinity or lime, but there is a mild chile flavor on the finish that leaves as fast as it comes - which is exactly what you want from a Chile beer. Pressure Drop: A Coconut Milk Stout with some sweet coconut flavors that are not punching you in the mouth, but just enough to keep you interested. _________

Minneapolis' newest brewery has opened! Brew Lab 101 has…read moretaken over in the former Clockwerks space in downtown Minneapolis. The space is bright, open, and relaxing with modern lighting, exposed brewing equipment, and a fun downtown Minneapolis skyline painting on the back wall. I popped in on a Monday evening durning the soft opening. The place was quiet as it is still very new and not well known, if known at all. Every single one of the staff/owners were incredible. Super friendly and fun. Tons of passion and love for beer. I ordered a number of beers and was pleasantly surprised for a new brewery. I especially enjoyed the 505 Green Chili Mexican Lager. They also offer up some small bites including authentic Green Hatch Chili Stew, queso, pizzas, and soft pretzels. The stew is legitimately some of the best I have ever had. I am going to say it again, best I have ever had. It alone is worth a visit. Definitely check out this new brewery. Have a few pints and a bite to eat.

Amazing service. Excellent food and drink. Ambiance is…read moregreat with view of lake . Will be going back again. Pub pass is also accepted here

This is a nice place to have brunch especially in the summertime because the views of the lake are…read morestunning They have a large menu and so far what I've had has been pretty good, service is always on point Cocktails on the outside deck are always fine,have not visited in winter yet but I imagine it being cosy and warm

I love A-Side for happy hour! Plenty of free street parking right out front. Great selection of…read morelocal beers and tasty cocktails. Happy hour specials on drinks and food. The service and vibe here is awesome. Inside is warm and inviting. Servers are quick and attentive.

Adorable ambiance from this converted fire station, turned into a cute neighborhood restaurant. We…read morewere lucky to get a nearby on-street parking spot and were seated immediately without a reservation despite a full restaurant on a Monday night. Ambiance 5/5 Food 4/5 Service 5/5 Value 3/5 The A-Side burger and French onion crock were super tasty , but were priced relatively high compared with nearby competitors.

As a vegetarian/pescatarian, it can be very challenging to find restaurants outside the twin cities…read moreMetropolitan area. Even the ones I find usually have few choices to eat from and the food isn't that good. That's why I absolutely loved my visit to block North. It's something that could've been located in my own neighborhood in Saint Paul. Starting with the beer, they have an excellent selection of styles. I chose the Saison, which is far less common in Minnesota breweries than I would like. It was excellent. For lunch, I chose the ratatouille and added shrimp. They were served with the vegetable of the day, green beans. The serving size was enormous which can also be inversely related to quality, but not here. The green beans were cooked and seasoned to perfection. The ratatouille was lovely with chunks of eggplant and zucchini plus a mushroom on the side. This meal was just delightful. I was by myself, so I sat out the bar. The bartender was friendly, but not overbearing. There were many other items on the menu I would've loved to have tried. I will definitely stop here again in the future.

Tried their elk burger and it was phenomenal! My friends tried their Philly steak sandwich and…read moresteak poutine and gotta say the poutine was the best over ever had. Everything was delicious, and I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area! Great service and loved the vibes inside!