Latest Northeast Minneapolis Brew Lab All About Family

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Breweries and taprooms have grown so much in popularity in the last 10 years. The new kid on the block is just down the block from a few other breweries and taprooms like 612 Brew, and that is by design.

Family-owned Bauhaus Brew Labs said they are hoping their presence will solidify northeast Minneapolis as the brew district.

A lawyer, musician and scientist walk into a taproom. Nope, there's no punchline. Those are some of the occupations of the family members who own the recently opened Bauhaus Brew Labs.

"There are eight owners, and they are all of our family," said co-owner Lydia Haines. "My husband and I, my dad, my sister, my mom, Matt's brother, Matt's other brother, my sister-in-law."

It all started in a St. Louis Park garage. Matt Schwandt and his father-in-law, Howard Haines, made small batch German brews that were really quite good.

"It became apparent early on that he was doing something special," said Haines.

With any hobby, you can take it to the highest level of geekery you want. That's what they did, opening a nearly 10,000 square-foot brewery and taproom less than a month ago.

"We wanted to build a brewery that was inviting, all-inclusive and surprising when you walked in. We wanted it to be like, 'Oh this is different!'" said Haines.

And it is. It's massive, with capacity for nearly 300 in the taproom and on the covered patio. It is a fermentation play land with two stages for live performances, games for patrons and food trucks.

The beer is German-inspired.

"Ours is a lot more bright and a little quirky, like we are," said Haines.

"Brewing is a labor of love," said Schwandt, the president and head brewer. "We love what we are doing. I used to be a litigation attorney in a previous life, and this is a lot more fun than writing briefs."