Fitger's Brewhouse

bucko

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Fitger's Brewhouse occupies prime real estate in the Fitger's complex, which once housed Fitger Brewing Company, a regional brewery that closed in the early 1970s. Given it's history, it's no surprise that the atmosphere in the Brewhouse is quite nice, with lots of old wood, exposed brick and brewerania on display. The quality of the beer is top-notch, and the guys working in the brewery are constantly churning out new brews for both the Brewhouse and the Red Star Bar. There's always a range of styles on tap... Belgian-style beers... lagers.... IPAs, etc. Lots of seasonal offerings... They also have a cask beer each week. I've always had great service and many of the servers seem to have a solid understanding of the various beer styles. As I mentioned, the beer selection is great... definitely diverse. The food selection is quite good too, with a variety of choices and price ranges. And though I'm not a vegetarian, the veggie options are pretty tasty as well. Great bar, great beer, great people, great brewers. Thumbs WAY up.

02-19-2007 07:00:16 | More by bucko

Sjixxxy

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$

Probably my favorite place in Duluth. The food is incredible, and the drinks are very well priced during happy hour. Every time I fork out $2.50 for a pint of stupendous beer, I can't help but feel sad for all the people I know are paying the same price for a 12 oz. bottle of macro swill.

One line that I've heard here a few times that always brings a tear to my eye, is "Sorry sir, we don't carry that" after someone tries to order a Bud Light. ::sigh::

Any ways, the beers on tap rotate quite frequently, and I find I rarely get to enjoy the staple brews that are always on tap, since I always want to try the rotating ones before they go away. Can't say that this is a bad thing though, for it has been a great, affordable way that I got introduced to many styles of beer that I've since grown to love.

Atmosphere is decent, very small and cozy. Sometime the live music that is playing can dominate too much for the noise levels I prefer, but during the non-music hours, its always a nice place to just go an talk. Every time I've just sat at the bar, the others doing the same that I've talked to have been interesting and intelligent people capable of holding a good conversation. Never have I encountered a drunken jerkface that I just want to get far away from.People seem to come from far away to this place, and I often get to converse with others from around the nation.

Enough with the beer, lets move onto food. I can't say that I've ever eaten here and been disappointed. Everything I've ever had has been excellent, but four words really sums it up for me. Those words are "Wild Rice Pub Style." I'm not a vegan or vegetarian by any means whatsoever, but I won't shy away from saying that this meat alternative may just be my favorite thing to eat in this city. Everything I've ever ordered has been great, but are available at other places, and often done very well at those establishments. The pub style wild rice burger, however, I've never seen anywhere else. Delicious, healthier, and cheaper then its meat-made alternative. Definitely worth going for, even if you aren't a avid beer drinker.

12-01-2006 04:11:52 | More by Sjixxxy

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Along with Town Hall Brewery, Fitger's might be the best pub in the state. Always a wide variety of beer, and if you get on the email list you will always know what's on tap at a given time. Also, the website seems to always be updated and accurate. Which, for me living in the St. Paul, in great--I know what's going to be there when I make the effort. And the quality is always great and the creativity a driving force, much of which is probably already noted in other reviews.

An added bonus is a great vegetarian menu. The wild rice burger (pub style with mushrooms/onions is my favorite) is a unique and delicious meal compared to most pub grub. Also, the veggie chili is my wife's favorite. Blue corn chips came with the artichoke dip during the last trip. Going up north or small town can sometimes doom a veggie to pizza, fries or an overcooked gardenburger, but not at Fitger's. I'd stop for the veggie burger even w/o the great beer, but since I get both--I always stop.

11/18/11
Another great stop at the fabulous pub. Service was a bit slow, but friendly and helpful. Took my niece to dinner, per our tradition, and had the Lake Huron Smoked Dopplebock and the Misty Mountain IPA, both excellent. Wild rice burger was awesome as usual. Great place that's still a great place. Must stop in Duluth.

10-11-2006 03:26:30 | More by FightingEntropy

slyke

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I visit Fitger's Brewhouse every time I get up to Duluth. This is another place I can't believe it took this long for me to review.

Atmosphere is great with a mix of dark wood and natural stone walls in the cozy bar and interior dining spaces. Service is decent, but can occasionally leave something to be desired.

Beers are very good, with 8-10 selections available at any one time; my favorites are the El Nino IPA and the Big Boat Oatmeal Stout.

Food is very good and shows some imagination. Overall, the Fitger's Brewhouse experience is not to be missed.

09-17-2006 21:14:34 | More by slyke

edbeered

Minnesota

4.63/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

This brewpub has the distinction of being in a building that once was a regional brewery in Duluth(Fitger's). The brewery complex is actually an upscale mall with many shops and restaurants. The crown jewel is this brewpub.It's always crowded and for good reason-the selection and quality of their beers is exceptional. The interior is modern, with a small u-shaped bar adjoining the grill(the brewing equipment is visible from the hallway outside the pub but not from inside the brewpub itself). The walls are festooned with brewery signs and beer memorabilia. There is limited outdoor seating on a small patio.

In an arrangement unique in Minnesota at least, an adjacent bar and dance club, The Red Star, across the hall(with the same owners)also serves Fitger's Brewpub beers, including some that aren't available in the brewpub proper. So, as to selection, there are 10 different styles in Fitger's and 6 in the Red Star(there is some overlap).At Fitger's I drank samples of an IPA, an American pale ale, a British pale ale, a Belgian farmhouse saison, and an oatmeal stout. In the Red Star, I drank a beer unavailable at Fitger's, a double IPA. There were also a Belgian tripel and an apricot wheat(untasted). All tasted were authentic to style and of exceptional quality.

The food is good and filling and includes a variety of salads, sandwiches and burgers. There is a decent selection of vegetarian fare, including a very tasty hummus platter.

This is one of the premier brewpubs in Minnesota with an unrivaled variety of beer styles. If you visit Duluth, or are just passing through, this is a must-visit destination. In fact, it's worth a trip in and of itself.

07-31-2006 15:11:32 | More by edbeered

CharlesDarwin

Rhode Island

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

This place is as near to beer heaven as one can be. The list of expertly crafted brews always on tap is long, with lots of diversity and always one brew to really write home about. Prices are fair for the quality. My only complaint is the lack of proper glasswear.

The food is great pub food (try the Wild Rice burger). The service is quick, friendly and warm. The ambience is classic. Growlers are available in glass or nalgene for $6 refills!

I nearly lived here during my time in Duluth and now I miss it dearly.

Hoops is a masterful brewer, with great innovation and execution. Their recent expanse has been nothing but successful and talking to him at festivals is great. The whole brewing crew are a real good bunch.

07-22-2006 17:52:02 | More by CharlesDarwin

pweis909

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

I've been to Fitgers many times, but only once since I started reviewing beers and place s on BA. The brewhouse is located in the old Fitgers Brewery, which has been converted into a shopping complex, hotel, and microbrewery.

Last time I was there, I noticed a sign that says that the brew pub offers tours, although I don't know the details.

I was there at dinner time, and the joint was hopping. A few spaces at the bar, but the tables were all full. I was there for food and to sample a beer. I was faced with a 2 hour drive afterwards, so it was just one beer. Too bad, because they had many available. I had an IPA or a DIPA, either way, was excellent. The friend I was with had the same, and was quite happy.

I took my dinner at the bar -- I had a burrito and my friend had a burger. We both enjoyed the food, which ran us around $8-10 per entree, if I remember correctly. Although busy, we had good service at the bar, and the food arrived promptly.

07-18-2006 12:16:23 | More by pweis909

JeffKrenner

Minnesota

4.2/5  rDev -2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Review from a visit on 6/25/06.

A - Considering I was here early on a sunday afternoon, it was really hard to tell. Nice warm wood all around inside. Patio outside (where of course my wife wanted to sit).

Quality - Everything we had was good. Good beer, Nachos were huge and great. My burger was quite good.

Service - Service was pretty good considering we were the only two on the patio most of the visit. Never let a beer stand empty and food was pretty quick.

Selection - Great selection of brews, I think they had 8 on tap. Food was pretty much the normal brewpub fare with a few twists.

Food - Food was good and quick to come. Already said it in quality.

Value - Prices were reasonable. Beer sampler is a steal at 7 samples for $5.

Great place. Walk around and check out the breweries history scattered all about the building.

07-01-2006 14:01:40 | More by JeffKrenner

TastyTaste

Minnesota

4.63/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$

In a building both old and industrial, like much of Duluth (one of the strangest and coolest cities in Minnesota), Fitgers is a very interesting brewpub. My only knock on this place is the size, but being as it was in a historical building, it is understandable.

The main room was dimlylit with a small bar area in the center and tables around. There was a top level, which I didn't go up to, and a room with a bunck of kettles off the main dining room. There were many beers on tap while I was there, all brewed by fitgers. I would guess 9 beers and one on cask. Too many for one visit. The tap handles were made of colorful handblown glass, looking like paraphenalia. The service was fast and friendly, prices were very reasonable, and the beer was delicious (I especially loved the Weizenbock, and the DIPA was good as well. I had a Bleu Cheese burger to eat, and it was fantastic (although they couldn't cook it medium-rare :-( ). All in all it is my second favorite brewpub in MN, right behing Town Hall. Good food, good beer, all around a great experience

06-20-2006 04:36:52 | More by TastyTaste

dfried

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +3.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

This is basically the best brewhouse in Minnesota. Every brew here is an above average beer. They know how to do it here. The food is awsome, the service is pretty good, decent atmosphere. The stand out feature of this place though is the quality of the beer. I could drink here all the time, it's nice living a couple hours away so it maintains its novelty, but I would be here everyday if I lived in Duluth. The beer is just so good across the board, and they are so creative seasonally that they keep things interesting. If you are in Duluth, you must stop here as a BA, but it might even be worth planning a trip for.

05-13-2006 01:36:30 | More by dfried