A new-to-Minnesota brewery is bringing some southwestern spice to downtown Minneapolis.

Brew Lab 101 Beer Co. quietly started serving beer in the former Clockwerks Brewing space on the edge of the North Loop, according to the business' Feb. 12 post on Instagram.

With branding inspired by popular TV show “Breaking Bad," Brew Lab 101 initially launched in Rio Rancho, New Mexico in June 2019 and more recently added a second location in Albuquerque.

A couple of guys who grew up in New Mexico and relocated to the Twin Cities as adults, Herman Romero and Johnathan Welch, franchised the concept from founder Scott Salvas in order to bring it to Minneapolis.

Salvas told the New Mexico Dark Side Brew Crew last Friday, the day that Brew Lab 101 opened in Minneapolis, that a fourth Brew Lab 101 location (also a franchise) could open in another state later this year.

Photo courtesy of Brew Lab 101 via Instagram

The new Minneapolis location serves some of the same beer as the New Mexico locations, including Brew Lab’s award-winning “Walter Wit” witbier (a play on Walter White, the main character in "Breaking Bad") and “Wicked Pissah” Hazy IPA. Minneapolis head brewer Ryan Woodfill came up with some new brews as well.

This is what’s on tap at Brew Lab 101 in Minneapolis:

  • Mexican lager – “Sexi NuMexi”
  • Witbier – “Walter Wit”
  • Red lager – “Infra(red) Lager”
  • Hazy IPA – “Wicked Pissah”
  • Mexican lager infused with pickle juice – “Dill With It”
  • American IPA – “The Bull”
  • Mexican lager with green chile, lime and salt – “505”

From the beer to the food and decor, Brew Lab in Minneapolis is a mix of New Mexico and the Midwest.

The brewery also serves Heggies Pizza, a Minneapolis bar staple, and southwestern-influenced snacks including green chile stew and tater tot hotdish with green chile queso, Bring Me the News previously reported.

There’s even a mural painted on a taproom wall of the Minneapolis skyline with a Zia symbol, featured on New Mexico’s flag.

The brewery’s hours are listed on its website as 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. It’s closed on Tuesdays.

A grand opening celebration is expected next month around the Big Ten basketball tournaments at Target Center, where it's taking place March 6-17 about two blocks from the brewery, but an exact date hasn't yet been announced.

Brew Lab 101 is located at 25 N. Fourth St. next to the Minneapolis Police Department’s First Precinct.