High Pines Brewing Company opening February 2021 as Roseville's second brewery • Beer Dabbler

High Pines Brewing Company in Roseville aims to open its doors in early February 2021 • Photo by Jordan Wipf

The shark decor and seafood baskets that once filled the former Joe’s Crab Shack at 2704 Snelling Avenue have been replaced with brewing equipment and pint glasses. The new occupant High Pines Brewing Company is on its way to opening this February as Roseville’s second brewery.

High Pines owners Peter Crews and Sonja Anderson have been longtime craft beer lovers, having worked at craft beer bars like The Smiling Moose and The Bulldog Uptown. Working at pubs with extensive tap lists gave the couple a taste of what the craft beer industry has to offer, thus sparking the idea of starting a taproom of their own.

“A couple of years ago I didn’t have a job and I was sitting on an inheritance,” explains Crews. “My wife [Anderson] and I thought it seemed like a good time to give the taproom and brewery thing a shot.”

After searching for locations for a year, the couple secured the former restaurant space. Now, they had the passion, the funds, and the space, but High Pines was missing an integral piece of the puzzle: a brewer. Then, with what seemed like fate, Crews and Anderson were introduced to Matt Faulkner. Faulkner previously worked as a small batch brewer at Stone Brewing in Napa, California. After moving to Minnesota, Faulkner joined Anderson and Crews on the High Pines team.

High Pines Brewing Company's Peter and head brewer Matt Faulkner • Photo by Madison Miller-WEB-008

High Pines Brewing Company’s co-owner Peter Crew (L) and head brewer Matt Faulkner (R) • Photo by Madison Miller

Faulkner hopes to produce exceptional brews with a “flourish of the unexpected.” He will be working with a 10-barrel brewing system with 9 fermentors.

Initially, the brewery was scheduled to open its doors in July of 2020. However, due to COVID-19, the process was slower than expected and the couple pressed pause on the big day. They are aiming to open the doors on February 3, 2021. By opening day, they plan on having 4–6 beers available. However, they have the capacity for 22 taps, which they want to eventually fill.

“Matt has a variety of stuff that he wants to brew,” says Crews. “We’ll have IPAs, sours, and some easy-drinking lagers and lighter beers. Eventually, we’ll have seltzers on tap, too.”

Although the Coronavirus has changed the couple’s vision for opening day, it hasn’t stopped them from dreaming of the future.

“We want the taproom to have a sports bar feel,” describes Crews. “We want High Pines to be a night-out destination with a family-friendly vibe. We’ve partnered with The Tipsy Steer so we’re able to have a full food menu as well as beer.” The Tipsy Steer operates another kitchen inside the Invictus Brewing Company complex in Blaine.

Along with their spacious, sports-bar themed taproom, High Pines has a patio that can seat around 40 people and a parking lot with about 160 spots for parking.

“We have a lot of room outside to expand if we need to,” says Crews. “We will definitely be having the occasional outdoor event and tent party!”