The original taproom for Dangerous Man Brewing Co. opened in 2013 but shut down 10 years later (the building is now Vinai). Since then, the brewery has operated out of a Maple Lake facility and landed new owners. (Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
One taproom's closing is leading to another brewery's reopening.
Dangerous Man Brewing has confirmed it will return to its original neighborhood, northeast Minneapolis, to take over the space soon to be vacated by HeadFlyer Brewing, which announced the closure of its taproom last week.
Dangerous Man Brewing Co
This changeover will end a nearly three-year taproom hiatus for one of the earliest and best-loved breweries in the Twin Cities' 2010s-era craft beer boom.
"Dangerous Man has proven it still has a lot of fans out there, and those fans are thirsty for a spot to reconnect with the beer," said Andrew Burns, Dangerous Man's chief operating officer.
Originally located along the 13 Avenue NE. corridor in what is now Vinai -- near the former Young Joni and soon-to-be Saffron -- it was essentially priced out of the neighborhood it helped make trendy. Dangerous Man left northeast Minneapolis in 2023 and operated out of a production facility in rural Maple Lake before shutting down altogether in early 2025.
Andrew Burns Dangerous Man
A new owner, Jeremy Kuhns of Lakeville's Rafters Brewing, bought Dangerous Man and relaunched it in fall 2025 with founder Rob Miller (the "dangerous man") still in charge of brewing. However, Dangerous Man has not had a taproom of its own since shuttering its original location.
Look for the new taproom to open by the end of spring, a month or two after HeadFlyer's scheduled closing date of April 5. Housed in the four-story Miller Textile Building, built in 1902 at 861 E. Hennepin Av., the space includes a large patio and neighbors a popular Five Watt Coffee outlet.
"HeadFlyer did a great job with its taproom, so there's not a lot we have to do with it," said Burns, who credited HeadFlyer's founders for approaching Dangerous Man with the idea of taking over their space.
Dangerous Man has proven it still has a lot of fans out there, and those fans are thirsty for a spot to reconnect with the beer.
Why this lands now
Openings get the attention, but it is the second and third year that decide whether a restaurant becomes part of a city's routine.
What to remember
- The original taproom for Dangerous Man Brewing Co. opened in 2013 but shut down 10 years later (the building is now Vinai)
- One taproom's closing is leading to another brewery's reopening
- Dangerous Man Brewing has confirmed it will return to its original neighborhood, northeast Minneapolis, to take over the space soon to be vacated by HeadFlyer Brewing
- "Dangerous Man has proven it still has a lot of fans out there
- Originally located along the 13 Avenue NE. corridor in what is now Vinai -- near the former Young Joni and soon-to-be Saffron -- it was essentially priced out of the neighborhood it helped make trendy
The numbers worth knowing
- Dangerous Man left northeast Minneapolis in 2023 and operated out of a production facility in rural Maple Lake before shutting down altogether in early 2025
- A new owner, Jeremy Kuhns of Lakeville's Rafters Brewing, bought Dangerous Man and relaunched it in fall 2025 with founder Rob Miller (the "dangerous man") still in charge of brewing
- Housed in the four-story Miller Textile Building, built in 1902 at 861 E
What people ask
What should you know about Dangerous Man?
The original taproom for Dangerous Man Brewing Co. opened in 2013 but shut down 10 years later (the building is now Vinai).
What happens next?
Dangerous Man Brewing has confirmed it will return to its original neighborhood, northeast Minneapolis, to take over the space soon to be vacated by HeadFlyer Brewing, which announced the closure of its taproom last week.
The bottom line
None of this settles the wider question. It does make one thing harder to ignore: the pressure in the dining room has shifted, and others will have to respond to it.