![]() These may all seem like no-brainers, but go check out a show at Acme and then visit a bar that hosts a “comedy night” and you’ll quickly see how the devil is in the details.īecause of the comedy-friendly layout, more and more fans began packing the space as the allure of a brewery where you can do more than just drink became instantly appealing. The stage is elevated and well-lit, the layout of the chairs and tables focuses the audience’s attention squarely on the performer, and the spacing allows for people to come and go as needed, without disrupting the entire show happening in front of them. This past summer, Sisyphus took the next step in fusing the brewery with comedy when they opened an 88-person comedy room, which resembles a trimmed-down version of any of the big clubs in town. I wanted comedy to be a focus of our space as opposed to a sideshow, as a way to continue bringing in new people.” “I know that craft beer is cool now, but who knows if that’ll be true in five years. If we were going to do it, we were going to do it right,” Harriman says. “I knew that I didn’t want us to be a brewery that just happened to do comedy on the side. Local standouts like Chris Knutson, who held an album release party for his debut comedy album at the brewery, immediately gravitated to Sisyphus thanks to its “smart” comedy crowds, and understanding of how comedy should be presented. Right from the get-go, the taproom began hosting weekly comedy shows, giving people more reason to come through the doors, and giving comedians a new venue to gain stage time.ĭespite the fact that these early shows were comprised of a makeshift stage, awkward seating arrangement, and not what anyone would consider a “traditional” comedy room look or feel, those they were often times packed to capacity, creating the unmistakable energy of a real comedy venue instead of a converted performance space. While Sisyphus has continued to enjoy growth and success for the past couple of years, Harriman has never lost sight of his comedy roots. ![]() That led to the birth of Sisyphus Brewing, which has become a popular brewery in Minneapolis’ increasingly crowded craft beer and taproom scene. Corey Adam performs in the Sisyphus Brewing comedy room // Photo courtesy of SisyphusĪfter spending nearly three years as a performer on the local Twin Cities standup comedy scene, Sam Harriman came to the realization that making a living doing comedy wasn’t going to be easy, and decided to pursue a different passion: brewing.
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