One of downtown St. Paul’s newest treasures is Stacked Deck Brewing. The taproom is in a building that hosts Tria Rink, the new home of Minnesota Wild practices. For a downtown space, street and ramp parking is ample, making it possible to swing by for happy hour.

Outside enormous windows, downtown bustles. Within the space, warm lighting and sectioned-off seating create a more intimate atmosphere. Subtle nods to the playing card theme make the decor feel intentional without being campy.

I enjoyed a flight of beers including: Sally Forth Saison, Double Down Dry Hopped IIPA, Killer Bee Triple Simcoe IPA, and Snaggletooth Breakfast Stout (my personal favorite of the lineup).

I asked one of the beertenders, Sarah, to offer me some advice. She was quick to tell me, “Make sure your significant other doesn’t like the same breakfast cereal as you.” Well damn, Sarah. I feel attacked. While she really did mean breakfast cereal, I think Sarah’s advice can be a metaphor for a lot in relationships. It’s important to recognize how your needs interact with another person’s. Once you identify pressure points (like hoarding breakfast cereal), you can adapt to prevent unnecessary relationship strain.

You also get that whole box of Cap’n Crunch to yourself.