Click on any of the photos below to view each team member’s bio!
Owner/General Manager
Owner/Business Manager
Owner/Head Brewer
Dog Ambassador
From prehistoric caves, laboratories, thunderstorms, and hot tubs to forests, dreams, and showers—ideas of all shapes and sizes come to us in a myriad of ways—but the best ideas are almost always conceived over a couple of beers among friends. The Marine Corps. Shark Week. Buffalo Wings. The Ironman Triathlon. And…Paddlefish Brewing Company—the first brewery in St. Peter since Engesser Brewery Distributors threw in the towel in 1942. That is over eighty years without selling “pure grains of keg beer distributed in single service containers” (as an old advertisement of Engesser’s quipped.) It goes without saying that that is eighty years too long. Thankfully, a trio of beer lovers named Eric Johnson, Luke Dragseth, and Dave Long are bringing a brewery business back to this fine town in the fall of 2023.
This is the story of how St. Peter’s first brewery in over 80 years came about. It begins, as it should, with some damn good beer. At Paddlefish Brewing Company, everything worth talking about begins with damn good beer. In this case, we must raise a glass to Paddlefish head brewer Luke Dragseth—born and raised in “Brew City” Milwaukee—for concocting and sharing his delicious home-brewed Cream Ale for his friends at Gustavus Adolphus College. One of those friends lucky enough to imbibe that batch was none other than owner and business manager Eric Johnson. With Luke’s Cream Ale nourishing his friends in body, mind, and soul, Eric got an idea and joked that he’d like a chance to sell Luke’s product. The idea germinated unseen until Paddlefish’s entrepreneur extraordinaire was enjoying a cold one at Bent Paddle—another Gustie-owned brewery—and that seedling of an idea that sprouted as a joke among friends transformed into a glorious vision to create St. Peter’s very own brewery and taproom.
So after spending hours crafting and perfecting the best beer recipes using equipment in his dorm room, Luke is elevating his talents to the next level. Eric, having put several thousand miles on his feet completing the many tasks of a brewery business manager is also ready and so is their industry expert Dave who has been busy developing the brand and stepping up his managerial skills. The ultimate goal of selling Luke’s damn good “keg beer in single service containers” is fast approaching. Stay tuned for all the ways you can join the fun and contribute to our mission to become St. Peter’s finest community-oriented brewery, a place where you can enjoy some of the best damn beer in the state among your friends for years to come.
And now our beloved beer fans, this is where Paddlefish Brewing Company’s story is almost ready to merge with your own. With gratitude, excitement, laughter, humility, nervousness, and a whole lot of passion, we simply can’t wait to raise a glass of Paddlefish pure grains together!
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
The face you make when the root beer float hits just right. 🍦🥤 Floats are here until the ice cream runs out tonight—kid-approved!
🎉 Happy National Root Beer Float Day from all of us at Paddlefish! $5 Floats All Day! Stoked to collab with @sotascoops and serve their dreamy ice cream!
🍦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
📸 Brewery Fam Moment
Dena (left), Donna (right), and the one and only Bärli Jax 🐾 whose name fittingly means “big bear, protector, teddy bear” dropped by for some brews and relaxation last week!
We’re lucky to have such kind-hearted hoomans (and huggable canines) call Paddlefish their spot 🐶
#breweryfamily #bernesemountaindog #paddlefishbrewing #stpetermn #brewerylife
🎉 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. 💪
🍻 Say hey to Sarah, one of our awesome bartenders, our employee of the month 🥇 AND your official Paddle Pass hype person! 🙌
For just $25/month, you get:
✅ BOGO pints (1/day)
✅ 1 free crowler/month
✅ 10% off merch, crowlers & growlers
✅ Early access to events & new releases
Ask your beertender how to join, scan the QR code in the taproom, or hit up the link in bio!
🎶 It’s Band Draft Night! 🎶
Join us tonight for the 48-Hour Band Challenge Draft from 6–7pm. Local musicians will be randomly assigned to bands and then have just two days to write original songs together. It’s chaotic. It’s creative. It’s awesome.
Then stick around from 7–10pm for live music from three Minnesota Original Music Fest artists playing their own original sets 🙌
🍲 Russell’s will be here from 4–8pm
🎫 Monthly Paddle Passes are still available!
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 😜
We are absolutely honored and feeling so much love right now!🥹
Paddlefish was voted Best Brewery in Mankato for 2025!
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who voted, visited, and continues to support us on this wild ride. We’re so grateful to be a place where community can gather, families and friends can celebrate, local non-profits can be lifted up, and where we can highlight local artists and history with an excellent beer-in-hand. We’ll keep doing our best to make this place feel like home!
We appreciate every single one of you! Thank you thank you thank you!! 🍻
🎉 July Promos Unlocked! 🔓
As if things weren’t hot enough, we’re heating things up even more with a fresh lineup of taproom deals all month long:
🍻 Bring a First-Timer Monday (4–8pm)
👶 Kiddo Cup Tuesday – free 10oz Italian soda drinks for the littles w/ purchase of adult beverage
💵 $5 First Pint Wednesdays
🍺 Thirsty Thursday Flights – $2 off all day
🎟️ Free Raffle Fridays – win Paddlefish prizes (7-10pm)
🎯 Spin the Wheel Saturdays (7–10pm) (one spin per paying customer)
🍻 Growler Fill Sundays – Always just $15, off-sale ends at 6pm
Stop in and sip something new! Cheers! 🍋☀️
Wishing you a Jolly 4th from all of us at Paddlefish Brewing! 🇺🇸 Stay safe, stay cool, and make sure to crack open a cold Paddlefish brewski 🍻
Taproom open til’ 10pm!
🍋 Pike’s Portage Lemon Shandy Release – July 4th @ Noon! 🛶
We’re paddling into the holiday weekend with a crisp new release! Join us Thursday at 12pm for the taproom debut of Pike’s Portage Lemon Shandy — a bright, citrusy brew inspired by Minnesota’s backcountry trails and paddle routes.
Your ideal schedule for the 4th:
8:49am: 👕 Put on your Paddlefish swag
10:13am: 📸 Snap a photo of Sweet Pea in the Parade, get some candy, possibly a free beer token
10:51am: Head over to the taproom, get a $1 off your beer because you are one of the first 20 guests. Show your Sweet Pea photo to your beertender and you’ll be entered into our free crowler raffle!
12pm: 🍋 Get yourself a Pike’s Portage Lemon Shandy!
Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸
#PikesPortage #LemonShandy #ShandySeason #MinnesotaBeer #CraftBeer #DrinkLocal #ParadeToThePint #SweetPeaSighting #PaddlefishBrewing #TaproomRelease #4thOfJulyBeer #MNBeer
Happy 4th of July from Paddlefish Brewing! 🇺🇸
We’re rolling right from the parade to the pint!
🍺 First 20 guests after the parade get $1 off their first pint!
📸 Plus—spot Sweet Pea (our vintage VW bus) in the parade?
Snap a photo, tag us @paddlefishbrewing or show a beertender to enter to win a free crowler!
🍖 And don’t worry about food—Doc E’s BBQ will be serving all day until 8pm!
We’re opening right after the parade (~10:45am) and staying open until 10pm.
It’s gonna be a red, white and brew kinda of day! 🇺🇸
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We’re sending summer out with a splash! Grab the whole family (and your floaty friends) for an afternoon of cold drinks, sweet treats, and end-of-season fun.
for a private event
