The Science Museum of Minnesota and BlackStack Brewing Bring Back “THUNDER LIZARD” IPA

ST. PAUL, MN – The Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) and BlackStack Brewing have joined forces to bring back “THUNDER LIZARD” IPA, a collaboration that bridges scientific discovery with a love for brewing innovation. “THUNDER LIZARD” will (re)launch June 8, 2025, with an event at Blackstack and on June 12, 2025, at a special adults-only event at SMM. 

In 2017, SMM made headlines when Dustin, a character in Netflix’s popular Stranger Things, wore a vintage purple hoodie with Thunder Lizard iconography in an episode. Thunder Lizard is the direct translation for Brontosaurus, the name of a large, long-necked herbivorous dinosaur that lived during the Late Jurassic period (around 150 million years ago). It was characterized by its massive body and small head with an extremely long neck and tail. It was one of the largest land animals ever known to have existed, reaching lengths of up to 72 feet (22 meters) and weighing as much as 15 tons. Excitement about the purple hoodie and associated merchandise led to the “THUNDER LIZARD” IPA, a collaboration with nearby BlackStack Brewing. Proceeds helped support educational programming at the museum. 

“The collaboration was really a celebration of the work of the museum that met this fun pop culture moment,” said Murphy Johnson, co-founder, BlackStack Brewing. “We’ve had requests to bring ‘THUNDER LIZARD’ back into rotation consistently since then and  we’re excited to resurrect a fan favorite.”

“We are always excited about the Thunder Lizard,” said Alison Brown, president and CEO, SMM. “What was a brief moment in TV history has become an important part of museum lore, and we’re grateful to our friends at BlackStack for keeping the story going.”

To celebrate the re-release, SMM scientists will host an event at BlackStack on Sunday, June 8 from 1 to 3 p.m., with opportunities for guests to learn about the paleontology program and get up close to fossils related to the Brontosaurus. On June 12, SMM hosts Museum Nights: Summer Camp, an adults-only evening where BlackStack will have free tastings of their beers for guests. 

While in production, “THUNDER LIZARD” IPA will be available for purchase at SMM during open hours at its dining locations.