Dual Citizen Brewing, St. Paul’s newest brewery and taproom, beautifully captures the spirit of the city. Located just off the Light Rail in a gorgeous historical building, Dual Citizen is a practice in balance.

The “duality” of its name represents the differences and bridges between the Twin Cities as well as the delicate balance of business and citizenship. Duality comes to life even in the taproom design, which features a mixture of hard industrial textures and soft recycled wood.

The beers are named after St. Paul streets, which suits the brand perfectly. I tried the Lyndale Session Pale Ale and the Grand Imperial Stout, both of which were fantastic.

Max Filter, Owner and Head Brewer, offered me this advice via email after my visit:

“Our first attempt at opening a brewery ended in a condemnation notice and a bulldozer. Nine years later we finally opened our doors to the public. Don’t let obstacles and setbacks discourage you from following your dreams. Learn what you can from your mistakes and keep moving forward.”