Flagship (and flashback) Friday!🍻

🦉 Red Owl Amber – 5.3% ABV | 17 IBUs | Smooth, toasty, perfectly balanced. Malt-forward with notes of caramel + biscuit.

Our building once housed a Red Owl grocery store back in the 1960s and 70s and we still hear stories from folks who worked here as cashiers, bookkeepers, and stockers. We even have customers who bring in old relics for us to showcase and also some who sport a Red Owl t-shirt. Who remembers when this corner was the Red Owl? What memories do you have?

From what we know, this Red Owl switched over to SuperValu in 1982, later became Total Entertainment in the 90s (movie rentals anyone? 🎥🍿), and eventually transformed into Paddlefish Brewing after other businesses have come and gone. Remember others?

We haven’t found many photos of the 90s–2000s era so if you have them (or more Red Owl memories or other photos), please share! We love seeing the history come alive!

Red Owl Amber: Smooth, toasty and owl-ways on point 🦉

Another great turnout for Open Mic last night! Lots of new folks, plus our awesome regulars. Thanks to our wonderful staff holding down libations, @chasedburkhart / Chase D. Burkhart Music for hosting, and everyone who came out to support the performers and spread the good vibes. #openmic #originalmusic #allgenreswelcome

New on tap: Baby Eleanor! ❤️ Gus has been promoted to big brother, and Chloe + CJ are soaking up all the newborn snugs. Huge congrats to our resident design wizard, Chloe! She’s responsible for all of those beautiful beer labels and signs you love.

☀️ One Last Splash is coming! 🍺🍦

We’re closing out summer with:
🍺 Beer Floats – Red Owl Amber + Caramel, First Apostle Porter + Coffee Ice Cream, Sour + Raspberry or Lemon Sorbet (beer poking too!)
🥤 Root Beer Floats for the kids
🎨 Kids’ craft area + rubber ducky fish pond
🎒 School Supply Drive with SWMHP – Bring supplies & get $1 off your first beer
🚐 Sweet Pea’s cousin making a special guest appearance!

#OneLastSplash #PaddlefishBrewing #BeerFloats #RootBeerFloats #BackToSchoolDrive #SweetPeasCousin

🍦August at Paddlefish!!

Root beer floats, door mat painting, yoga, dog day, new shirts, and our last big summer bash. 🌻🍻🎨

Here’s what’s coming up:
🍦 Wed, Aug 6 – $5 Root Beer Float Day (feat. @sotascoops vanilla 🍦) Happy National Root Beer Float Day!
🎤 Tues, Aug 19 – Open Mic Night
🎨 Wed, Aug 20 – Doormat Painting
🎉 Sun, Aug 24 – Morning Yoga + “One Last Splash” Family Event
🐶 Tues, Aug 26 – National Dog Day: Treat Yo’ Pup Tuesday
🔤 Thurs, Aug 28 – Initials Game Live

Less wildfire smoke, more fun and beer!

#paddlefishbrewing #minnesotabreweries #stpetermn #summeratthebrewery #sotascoops #rootbeerfloatday #dogfriendlybrewery

🎉 Happy Birthday to our own Dude, Danny! 🍺

From pouring pints to playing sax, writing horror stories to recommending lagers, this guy keeps things smooth, rich, and full of fall flavor, just like his favorite Paddlefish beer: Oktoberfest. 🍂

He once played camp counselor, has spherical blood cells (true story), and lives for a Led Zeppelin jam or an IDLES mosh pit. Catch him stacking glasses like a wizard, sharing beer wisdom, or calmly navigating the chaos of Gustavus Homecoming weekend.

His guilty pleasures? Legally Blonde and Pink Pony Club. His dream superpower? Reality manipulation. Honestly, we think he might already have it.

Raise a glass to Danny today — the man, the myth, the McNutter Butter. 🥜 Cheers, Dude!

#BirthdayBeers #TheDudeAbides #PaddlefishCrew #LagerLegend #McNutterButterMan #SphericalBloodCellEnergy

BACK IN PURPLE 💜💛

Our 2nd annual Paddlefish x @hoppassport collab shirts have landed and they’re louder, prouder, and bolder than ever. Built to withstand heartache and last second field goal misses!

Whether you’re a diehard fan or just here for the beers and cheers, these beauties are built for tailgates, taprooms and touchdowns…That JJ to JJ connection will be sweeter when you’re wearing one of these puppies.

🔥 Designed in collab with @bfreshgear
🍻 Limited pre-order for Mug Club members only
⏰ Released to the public at 5pm this Friday!
🏈 $65 - worth every Uff Da and hearing your aunt say, “Oh Fer Cute!”

Are you a Monthly, Annual, or Lifetime member?
DM us your shirt size OR reply by August 1 to the Mug Club newsletter email to reserve yours.

Public release: Fri, Aug 1st at 5pm

#SkolPaddlefish #PurpleReign #HopPassport #BFreshGear #MugClubExclusive #PaddlefishBrewing #BrewedInMN

Still riding high from an incredible day at All Pints North in Duluth! 🌊🍻

Huge shoutout to Will, Danny, and Sarah. They are the troopers who made the trek from St. Peter to pour their hearts out (and our beer) in the summer heat. It was their first APN, and they crushed it. 💪

Huge thanks to @danscraftbeeradventures and @doreenmeetsbeer for teaming up with us and helping us out with all of your experience from working at Alloy :) You made the day even more special. And to everyone who stopped by our booth, took some selfies with us, or tried a pint: you’re the reason we love doing this!
And thanks to @mncraftbrewersguild for putting this on each year!

#PaddlefishBrewing #AllPintsNorth #MNBeer #CraftBeerCommunity #BrewCrewOnTheMove

One of the coolest surprises we’ve had!🍻 Bill Sampson, a leather artist from Bozeman, MT who we met months ago during a taproom chat, came back today with this stunning handcrafted Paddlefish Brewing sign. He said it took him 93 hours or so to make and that he usually sells pieces like this for over $300, but he gifted it to us just because.

We’re blown away by the craftsmanship, the generosity, and the connection. Huge thanks to Mike for this beautiful piece of Paddlefish history and to everyone who makes this place what it is. 💙 Being part of this community is something special.

📏 Volunteer Spotlight: Aunt Shauna!

If you’ve ever had your glass whisked away with a grin, been greeted at your table with a warm hello, or witnessed someone proudly discovering they’re the shortest adult to ever get measured at Paddlefish… you’ve probably met Aunt Shauna.

Shauna is our loyal volunteer MVP! You’ve most likely seen her at big events and busy weekends with a smile, a story, and a whole lot of heart (and sassiness). She’s always full of fun facts, recycles our spent grain bags for landscaping (resourceful and eco-friendly!), and proudly sports Ceramic Mug #47.

Have you ever seen Shauna in action at the brewery? It’s a sight to behold.

We’re raising a glass (or four) to you today, Shauna. Thanks for everything you do. 💙

It means the world to us when folks pitch in just because this place feels like home. We’re endlessly grateful, and we love our little community something fierce. 💪

Another one down, and this one hits close to home.

Alloy Brewing closed its doors after 8 years this past weekend & while the loss is felt deeply across the Minnesota craft beer scene, it holds an especially meaningful place in the heart of Paddlefish.

Back in 2023, before we opened our doors, Dave (Co-founder of Paddlefish) got his start behind the bar at Alloy. They knew he was planning to open a brewery & they welcomed him in anyway.

Rob, Alloy’s owner, is the kind of guy who answers any question within minutes of a text or call. Always helpful, always encouraging. He and the crew helped us troubleshoot our jockey box at our very first pouring event (2024 Winter Beer Dabbler) & it just so happened they were set up next to us when we were in full-on chaos mode.

Ben was instrumental in Dave’s learning. Dave shadowed him in the taproom and outside events, giving him hands-on insight before Paddlefish even opened.

Chris, Alloy’s longest-tenured team member, personally helped us revive our used crowler machine with the finesse of a Swiss watchmaker.

Doreen? Absolute connection queen. She introduced us to Brad (@mnwoodbee), who makes our custom tap handles, tokens, tackboards, and more. If you’ve ever held a wooden beer token at Paddlefish, that’s Alloy’s ripple effect.

Dave even graduated high school with Cory Nygaard, who brewed at Alloy & is the head brewer at Fish Dream in Rockford, MN, opening in 2026.

Even now, a few former Alloy team members & regulars make the trek down to St. Peter to visit us. Some even have joined our Makers Markets, selling their handmade koozies & trinkets. That kind of community carryover says it all.

The brewing industry is a family. People move between breweries, build new friendships, pass along ideas and tools, and create something bigger than themselves. When one of us closes, we all feel it. It’s not just the loss of a business, it’s the loss of a gathering place, a legacy, and a piece of our shared story.

So here’s to Alloy Brewing. Thank you for the beers, the mentorship, and the memories. You made an impact, and your ripple effect will live on in every pour.

Support your local brewery. Support local, period.

Throwback Thursday to January 2024 when Dale and Aaron snagged the very first pints of our Mountain Mama West Coast IPA! 🍻⁠
⁠
Major shoutout to Dale, who also gifted us a beautiful wooden Engesser Brewery case from the early 1900s (check it out by the water station). When we opened it, we found an old bottle of Engesser inside… and of course, we cracked it open and drank it!

Just kidding 😜