The southwest metro has started seeing a bit of a boom in breweries the past few years, and among the leaders in that charge is Fat Pants Brewing in Eden Prairie. It sports a great location (right across from Eden Prairie Center, home of Scheels), so you can go have a beer before or after your shopping trip.
What stands out about Fat Pants is that it's more than a brewery. Sure, you can go cozy up to the bar and have an IPA or sour, but what's different about this place is that it's also a restaurant. You can get anything from apps to pizzas to sandwiches and burgers, so if you decide to come with your family, you can sit in the restaurant side and enjoy a meal. If a member of your family isn't a beer drinker, don't worry. They can also make you a cocktail, or a glass of wine. They also have happy hour every weekday from 3-6, and they also have a dog friendly patio.
The bar area itself has three TV's, so you'll have no problem watching the local sports teams play there. They've also been known to host some watch parties for Formula 1 races (with the rise in popularity of F1 in the US, it's smart to corner this market)
On a recent trip there, we decided to have both a meal and beer. We both had their chicken sandwich with tater tots, which we enjoyed. We decided on two different beers, however. Will drank Paley's Comet, and American Pale Ale collaboration with 14 Lakes Brewing, while Sami had the Orange Shag, their Belgian Ale. Both were good, but Sami feels the Orange Shag is one of their better beers. If we were to recommend one beer from there, this would be the one.
Fat Pants is truly a "something for everyone" type of place. You can get a good meal and a good beer, whether it be lunch or dinner (they're open at 11 am daily). And, it's not in a spot where you're going to feel overwhelmed by the hustle of city life.