At the Twin Cities' latest taproom, the ABV and the IBU are always going to be zero, and the only beer option will be root beer.
Northern Soda, a New Brighton-based craft soda maker, recently opened what it says is the only nonalcoholic soda taproom in the state.
The concept is much like the craft breweries we're familiar with: a bar serving seasonally rotating drinks on tap, a distribution warehouse on-site, factory tours, board games and a variety of Minnesota-made snacks ranging from QC Pizza to Von Hanson's Pretzels.
Except instead of stouts, lagers and IPAs, Northern Soda is offering pints and flights of its own versions of 1950s-style cream sodas, ginger ales, pumpkin spice sarsaparillas and cane sugar colas, in addition to floats and slushies. Naturally, kids are welcome.
Co-owner Davod Zarghami said he hopes the taproom will be a place to celebrate a birthday or hang out after a hockey game for people who don't want to have an alcoholic drink.
The Northern Soda Taproom, 601 Campus Drive, Suite 10B, New Brighton, will have a grand opening this weekend that will feature a visit from Santa Claus from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday and a kids' coloring contest on Sunday.
Taproom hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
