USA, MN: Urban Moose Brewing Co. to open in Sauk Rapids this summer

Urban Moose Brewing Co., a brewpub featuring fast-casual dining and 12 taps of original beers, will be opening in Sauk Rapids this summer, St. Cloud Times reported on June 28.

Roy Dodds, owner of the establishment, has had Urban Moose on his mind since he opened Flying Pig Pizza in 2012.

"When we had people vote on the names for the pizza place, Urban Moose was only one point behind Flying Pig. And we thought Flying Pig sounded more like takeout and delivery, while Urban Moose was definitely more brewpub, so we held on to it," Dodds said. "We bought the websites for both four years ago."

Flying Pig Pizza closed on April 10 to accommodate the move to the new Urban Moose location, which will incorporate Flying Pig Pizza on its dining menu. Construction has been ongoing since February, and soon the brewery doors will open, with hopes of ushering in a new era of brewpub dining in Central Minnesota.

"I spent a lot of my career in fine food and wine, and so I wanted to create that same kind of experience in a casual, family style environment and that spoke to craft beer so much more than wine," Dodds said.

The new brewpub will feature a variety of seating options, from fireside soft seating to community tables, as well as a patio and rooftop experience. Guests will be able to flow without restriction from the dining room to the taproom, where they can sip a beer and play yard games next to the very system that brewed it.

"The taproom will feel like you're hanging out in your neighbor's garage, only your neighbor has the coolest garage in town," said Dodds, who intends to have the taproom available for meetings and events.

Head brewer Kevin Clark hails from Monterey, California, and worked at another brewpub with a similar background. Clark is excited by Dodds' vision for Urban Moose and is working on a wide variety of brews for the brewery's opening.

"My vision is always to have a beer for everyone. My preferences aren’t necessarily everyone else’s preference, and that works because I really love to brew many styles of beer. ... They're all fun to work on in my book," Clark said. "My philosophy behind beer is simplicity. The beer should just have wonderful flavor, wonderful aroma and be great to share with family and friends."

Clark's philosophy on beer matches up well with Dodds' plans for a casual, choose-your-own-adventure style dining experience.

"Beer is such a communal beverage. It’s meant to be consumed with your friends and family, so this venue is going to fit that perfectly."

Clark said he's most excited about being able to surprise consumers with an ever-changing menu of beers, and Dodds seems to agree.

"It's like a gourmet chef, but with beer," Dodds said in regard to the creative selection.

Dodds said he is hoping to do a weekend-long soft opening of the brewery some time in July. Urban Moose Brewing Co. is located at 415 Benton Drive N in Sauk Rapids.

03 July, 2016