FAQ 

This week we’re tackling some of the common questions we get about the brewery.  Let us know if there are any other questions you have been dying to ask!

Why is the wait so long to get on a Saturday tour?
We offer two free Saturday tours, one at 10:30am and one at 1pm.  We used to just offer one Saturday tour, but we added an additional tour a few years back when the issue first came up of the tours booking out months in advance.  That helped for a bit, but it seems free beer has just proven to be too popular, so we are back to the long wait.  We wish we didn’t have this problem-we hate to turn people away!  But due to safety and quality of the tour, we need to limit the number of people per tour (we still book around 80 people for a weekend tour!).  We are currently working on adding an additional Saturday tour, but it takes time to hire and train additional tour guides.  Our hope is to have a 3:30pm tour in place before year’s end, so stay tuned!

Why can’t I have a bachelor party at the brewery?
We reserve the use of our big ratskeller space for nonprofits and business organizations so that we truly can make it a community room, a place that people can gather and make things happen for the greater good.  We don’t charge for the space-it is one small way we can give back to the community that has made us what we are today. So stag and hen parties are out, but fundraisers are in. 

Why can’t I have a private tour or a corporate meeting here?  And why can’t I bring a ginormous group on the public tour?
We simply don’t have enough employees and tour guides to offer private tours at this time.  We get a lot of requests for these and we just can’t accommodate them-we’re still a pretty small place!  As mentioned above, we want to focus on more community based events so general corporate meetings don’t fit into that profile either.  As for bringing large groups on the public tour, we used to allow that but we found that most groups would reserve space for say 40 people, but only 25 showed up.  That is a lot of spots that could have been utilized by folks who really wanted to come on the tour, but were turned away because we were all booked up.  This is also why we ask you to call or email us if your reservation number changes-there is always someone who will take those spots!

Now that it is legal for the brewery to sell pints at the brewery, when will I be able to saddle up to the bar and buy a beer?
This new law broadens our horizons for sure, offering lots of new options on how we can welcome folks into our brewery.  What we want to do with this new power is a big decision, so we’re taking our time and taking a methodical approach to the project.  We have a cross-departmental committee researching and examining multiple scenarios, so that we can come to the best solution for the brewery and our customers.  Don’t worry-we’ll definitely let you know when we come to a decision!  For now, mark your calendars for another anniversary party on September 8, because events at the brewery are definitely part of the plan!

Can I purchase food at the brewery or bring food?
We do not have a license to serve food here, so plan to eat before you come on a tour!  Our brewery is a busy place, so we don’t encourage folks to bring their own food either.  Come on a tour to learn about beer and do your chowing at one of the hundreds of fine restaurants in the Twin Cities!

Do the brewing, packaging, gift shop and tours all happen at the same place?
Indeed!  We only have one facility and it is at 910 Montreal Circle in St. Paul.  Your beer is brewed here, packaged here, marketed from here, phone calls answered from here, gift shop open here, and tours conducted here.  It is downright quaint.

Do you have to know someone to get a job at the brewery?
Nope.  You do, however, need to apply when a job opens (which isn’t often) and be qualified for the position.  As you might expect, we get A LOT of resumes when we post a job opening, but don’t let that intimidate you.  Write a great cover letter, tell us about your experience that would make you great at the job, and see what happens!  And oh yeah, we only accept resumes when we are hiring.

Why doesn’t your India Pale Ale taste like other India Pale Ales?
The west coast IPA style has become the go-to type of IPA in this country.  Before that big, citrusy, piney and delicious style came into prominence, the Brits made an IPA that was bigger on the hops and alcohol then a typical Pale Ale, but with a more caramel and earthy flavor profile.  When we introduced our IPA way back in 1993, our goal was to honor that original British style.  If you looking for more of a west coast IPA, check out our Horizon Red Ale, a cross between an Amber and an American IPA.  And no, our Red tastes nothing like a Killian’s or Leinie’s-those are both Lager versions of a Red.  Ours is a lusty, hoppy, robust Ale.  Check it out!

How can I find out more about Summit events?
We have a fancy pants calendar on our website devoted to all the events where you can have some Summit, meet a brewer, listen to live music, bowl, raise money for a charity, you name it!  Check it out and check it out often.  We also try to keep folks in the loop via Facebook and Twitter.  We hope to see you at some of the events planned around the new Unchained Black Ale!


That’s it for now, but keep the questions coming-we will be happy to answer them!