Top 10 Spring 2025 IPAs from North Dakota and Minnesota Breweries
With spring around the corner and with it comes a fresh wave of hoppy delights. We’ve curated a list of the most exciting IPA’s that you absolutely must try this season.
1. Half Brothers Brewing Company- “Afternoon Squeeze”
Located in Grand Forks, Half Brothers Brewing creates the Afternoon Squeeze IPA, which is a bold and hoppy beer coming in at 8% ABV. This DIPA-New England style IPA features an explosive hop profile, with a massive amount of Citra & Mosaic hops, making it perfect for anyone who enjoys a more traditional IPA with a solid hoppy backbone.
2. Drekker Brewing Co. – “Ectogasm”
Drekker Brewing, located in Fargo, ND has earned a reputation for brewing creative and flavorful beers, and the Tropical Ectogasm IPA is a prime example. This hazy IPA features tropical fruit flavors, making it a fruity, refreshing choice for those who prefer a juicy, flavorful IPA.
3. Laughing Sun Brewing Co. – “Feast Like a Sultan”
Laughing Sun is located in Bismarck, ND. They made this beer from a combination of American 2-Row barley, Crystal and Munich malts, this IPA is well balanced with grapefruit and passion fruit citrus flavors and aromas.
4. Junkyard Brewing Co. - “Galactic Falconer”
With 2 locations, one in Moorhead, MN which was their first location and one in West Fargo, ND, Junkyard is definitely a big player in the brewery industry. They make the delicious Galactic Falconer NE style hazy IPA, it is citrusy and smooth. They use Galaxy & Falconer’s flight hops for a juicy hop flavor without the bitterness.
5. Swing Barrel Brewing Co. - “Big Shoppa”
Swing Barrel also located in Moorhead, MN comes in hot with this DDH hazy IPA at a nice 7.8% ABV while using some unique Aussie hops. For almost 8% it definitely doesn't taste like it. Smooth, hazy and clean.
6. IceWind Brewing- “Ludicrous Speed”
IceWind brewing is a short drive outside of Fargo ND, in the smallish town of Mapleton ND. Ludicrous Speed is a smooth, juicy IPA dry-hopped with a dank blend of Idaho 7, Citra and Galaxy for a tropical fruit punch, with a nice hazy appearance, aroma and good flavor.
7. Bemidji Brewing Co.- “Spring IPA”
Well they couldn’t have set it better for this list. The Spring IPA out of Bemidji, MN was brewed with tropical hop combo of Mosaic, Krush, and Nelson Cryo while using a pilsner malt and flaked oats which creates a nice hazy appearance with notes of guava, pineapple and lemon-lime.
8. Portage brewing Co.- “JuiceTree”
Portage Brewing has quite a story opening in 2017 then having a catastrophic fire in 2019 this brewery had to rebuild from the ground up. Juice tree is a hazy DIPA style IPA that anyone can appreciate. Coming in at 8% ABV with a soft base, with a blend of unmalted wheat, flaked wheat and flaked oats. With a heavy dose of Citra, Mosaic Cryo and Galaxy hops and notes of tangerine peel and mango pulp to boot.
9. Atypical Brewery & Barrelworks- “Straight Outta Hopton”
This Brewery comes out of Minot, ND, with this West Coast IPA with just the right amount of character and color with a nice 6.3% ABV and 65 IBU, which makes it nice for any occasion.
10. Surly Brewing Co.- “Axeman IPA”
This is Surly’s flagship IPA out of Minneapolis, MN and has won some awards. Hop forward, aromatic, Dank and hoppy using Citra and Mosaic hops, with a 7.2% ABV. This brewery has been around a long time in the Minneapolis area.
There you have it, a solid list of some tasty IPA’s to get on your radar. Track them down, or visit the brewery in person to get a pint in your hand. Cheers!
