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 in late February. The 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.
Here's the story of the handoff, the brands involved, and what it means for Northeast Minneapolis.
The Confirmation
Dangerous Man confirmed the takeover on March 9, 2026, as reported by the Star Tribune. Andrew Burns, Dangerous Man's chief operating officer, told the paper: "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."
The new taproom is expected to open by the end of spring—a month or two after HeadFlyer's scheduled closing date of April 5. The space is housed in the four-story Miller Textile Building, built in 1902 at 861 E. Hennepin Ave., and includes a large patio and neighbors a popular Five Watt Coffee outlet. Burns credited HeadFlyer's founders for approaching Dangerous Man with the idea of taking over their space: "HeadFlyer did a great job with its taproom, so there's not a lot we have to do with it."
Dangerous Man: A Comeback Story
Dangerous Man Brewing opened its original taproom in 2013 along the 13th Avenue NE corridor—in a turn-of-the-twentieth-century building that was originally a bank—and quickly became a favorite in Minneapolis' craft beer scene. The brewery is best known for its Peanut Butter Porter, which City Pages named the best beer in the Twin Cities, alongside its House IPA, Cream Ale, Chocolate Milk Stout, and Imperial Pumpkin Ale.
By 2023, Dangerous Man was essentially priced out of the neighborhood it helped make trendy. The original space is now Vinai—chef Yia Vang's restaurant—near the former Young Joni and soon-to-be Saffron. Dangerous Man moved production to Maple Lake, then shut down altogether in early 2025.
In fall 2025, Jeremy Kuhns of Lakeville's Rafters Brewing bought Dangerous Man and relaunched it, with founder Rob Miller—the "dangerous man," so nicknamed because his thick beard scared a friend's child—still in charge of brewing. Until now, Dangerous Man has not had a taproom of its own since shuttering its original location.
HeadFlyer's Pivot
HeadFlyer co-founders Amy and Neil Miller and partner Austin Lee announced in late February that they would close their taproom on April 5 after nine years. As we covered earlier, the brand is pivoting to a distribution-only model: HeadFlyer will continue to brew and sell its beers in bars and liquor stores, but without a taproom.
Amy Miller told the Star Tribune that running a taproom while raising three kids and working other jobs got to be too demanding. She added: "We poured so much into building the taproom into what it is today, and it means a lot to know it will continue to be a neighborhood gathering place. It's become a real staple in Northeast, so we're thrilled it will stay active in the community and continue bringing people together over great beer."
What's Next: A Brewers' Playground
The HeadFlyer space comes with on-site brewing equipment, which gives Dangerous Man more flexibility. Burns said customers can expect "more of our limited-release and experimental beers" to be made at the new location and sold in the taproom. "It's really going to be a brewers' playground," he promised.
The handoff is a rare win-win in a market where many Minnesota breweries have closed or restructured in recent years. HeadFlyer gets to focus on distribution without abandoning the space to vacancy. Dangerous Man gets a turnkey return to the neighborhood where it built its reputation. And Northeast Minneapolis keeps a beloved taproom address active—with a brand that helped define the neighborhood's craft beer identity a decade ago.
Look for Dangerous Man to open at 861 E. Hennepin Ave. by late May or early June 2026.
Cover image: Minneapolis craft beer (Wanderlust in Real Life).