The secret behind Sara’s Tipsy Pies is an incredible crust. The crust is so important to Sara Hayden, founder and co-owner of the St. Croix Valley-based business, that she says one of her mottos is, “In Crust We Trust.” The recipe is Hayden’s mother’s, and she says it’s the best she’s ever tasted. Customers seem to agree, as since we last checked in with the fledgling company, Hayden has expanded to more than 50 locations metro-wide.
But crust isn’t the only thing that makes these tipsy pies special. The name says it all: the secret ingredient in every pie is a local wine, beer or spirit. That’s why you can find a whisky pecan pie, or a bacon mac ’n’ beer cheese savory option, among many others. Sara’s Tipsy Pies produces seven sweet pies and two delicious savories for the salty fans.
The business began in 2012, when Hayden, after more than a decade as a stay-at-home mom, had all five kids in school and wanted to re-enter the workforce. She began a company called Rustic Pies of Stillwater LLC, and five months later transitioned to making her now-famous tipsies.
Last year, a big transition came when Sara’s Tipsy Pies relaunched the product line to sell delicious hand pies in more Twin Cities retail locations. Find Hayden’s fabulous pies in places like Kowalski’s, Hy-Vee, Brine’s Market and Deli, Hudson County Market, Festival Foods and more. Along with this transition came other big changes: The dessert pies are now about 50 percent larger for the same price, incorporate new packaging and have a new flavor lineup that includes Boozy Blueberry Lemon, a Minnesota State Fair hit that is now available year-round.
