OTHER ULTIMATE Favorites:
Wings Airport Cafe 16384 Airport Road, Brainerd • 218-828-0206
Wild Rice Veggie Burger House made, grilled, topped with cheddar. Comes with lettuce, tomato, onion and chipotle ranch.
Main Street Ale House 25559 Main Street, Nisswa • 218-961-6724
Olive & Prosciutto Burger Chuck & short rib burger, Swiss cheese, sliced green olives. Prosciutto, arugula, lemon aioli.
THE ULTIMATE BEER
Jack Pine Brewery 15593 Edgewood Drive N., Baxter
• 218-270-8072
A trip to Lakes Country wouldn’ t be complete without enjoying a craft beer. Luckily, the area’ s craft beer scene is booming, with a handful of breweries pouring some seriously tasty and unique beers.
Our mission to find the“ ultimate” brew took us to Jack Pine Brewery. Just like the jack pine tree for which the brewery is named, the brewery has grown a ton since it started out as a tiny operation in a pole building in a Brainerd industrial park. Now, it’ s one of the top breweries and taprooms in the region.
From light to dark, malty to hoppy, fruity, sour and even spicy, Jack Pine’ s beers caught our attention, including our selection of the“ ultimate” craft beer – Vengeance.
Vengeance is a beer with a kick featuring the brewery’ s Dead Branch Cream Ale infused with fresh-cut jalapeños. We’ re not the only ones who think Vengeance is a great beer. The beer won a bronze medal in 2016 in the chili beer category at the Great American Beer Festival.
Note: Vengeance has a sister beer at certain times during the year – Raspberry Vengeance. It’ s a unique blend of fruit and pepper.
Other ULTIMATE Favorites:
Roundhouse Brewery 23836 Smiley Road, Nisswa
• 218-963-2739
46 North Brewed with certified organic malts and hops, and wild-grown, traditionally harvested wild rice.
Big Axe Brewing Co. 25435 Main Street, Nisswa •( 218) 961-2337
Coffee Toffee Blonde A blonde ale infused with a blend of StoneHouse Coffee and toffee.
14 Lakes Craft Brewing Company 36846 Co Hwy 66, Crosslake •( 218) 692-4129
Dew Drop Sour A fruited sour brewed with key limes.
14 Lakes Craft Brewing Company 1 East Main St., Crosby • 218-866-0914
Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter Brewed with two varieties of chocolate malt, cocoa powder, and real peanuts for a roasted flavor with slight sweetness.
THE ULTIMATE SWEETS
The Chocolate Ox 25452 Main Street Nisswa •( 218) 963-4443 Location also at Grand View Lodge, 23457 Nokomis Ave., Nisswa
Is there anything more“ ultimate” than chocolate and sweet treats? We don’ t think so. So, we set out to find the“ ultimate” sweet shop in the Lake Country.
We were first alerted to The Chocolate Ox with a stern warning on a billboard on Highway 10 near Little Falls.“ Kids! Be Good in the Car,” the billboard warned. The assumption was that good kids on car drives to the Lake Country find a reward in Nisswa. We found that goes for“ Big Kids,” too.
Wander into The Chocolate Ox on Nisswa’ s quaint Main Street, where every aisle brims with candy delights! Enjoy gourmet truffles, homemade fudge, saltwater taffy, vintage sweets, and endless Jelly Belly options. Sip nostalgic sodas and savor 32 ice cream flavors. A sweet adventure awaits!
Other ULTIMATE Favorites:
Goody’ s Gourmet Treats 1531 Northern Pacific Rd, Brainerd
• 218-454-3340
Fun-filled shop offering a variety of ice cream, popcorn, chocolate, gourmet treats and gifts.
High Wheel Confectionery 236 4th St, Ironton • 218-772-0109
Bright, old-fashioned candy shop with gourmet popcorn, ice cream and a coffee bar.
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