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!
⚔️ Raise your horns, Mankato! ⚔️
We’ve teamed up with the Great Northern Viking Festival for a weekend of mead, music, and mayhem — and brewed something truly worthy of Valhalla: Raido Maple Vanilla Lager. 🍁
Made with real maple syrup and vanilla beans, this smooth golden brew will make you want to shout Skål!
🍺 First tapped exclusively at the Great Northern Viking Festival — Oct 18–19 (20002 T-198, Mankato)
🏠 Then sailing home to Paddlefish Brewing in Saint Peter right after the festival!
Come celebrate Viking-style and be the first to taste the legend. ⚔️
#GreatNorthernVikingFestival #paddlefishbrewing #DrinkLikeAViking #mncraftbeer #MankatoEvents #SaintPeterMN
🧠 It’s Initials Game Live night this Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7PM!
We love bringing people together for some good old-fashioned brain-busting fun—so grab your crew, grab a beer, and come play along with our local host and a lively crowd.
Initials Game happens every 3rd Thursday of the month, and Trivia Mafia keeps the competition rolling on the 1st Thursday.
🍻 Community, craft beer, and a little friendly rivalry — that’s what Thursdays at Paddlefish are all about.
#PaddlefishBrewing #initialsgamelive #TriviaNight #mankatomn #StPeterMN #mncraftbeer
🧩 Think you’ve got the fastest puzzle hands in town? Prove it.
Join us Wednesday, Oct. 22 from 6–8 PM for our Paddlefish Puzzle Competition — a night of teamwork, pizza, beer, and a little friendly chaos. Each team of 4 gets a Jake’s Pizza, a Paddlefish growler, and a puzzle to race through for some fun prizes.
🍕🍺 Puzzles. Pizza. Paddlefish.
$100 per team — spots are limited, so grab your crew and sign up today with the link in our bio!
#PaddlefishBrewing #mncraftbeer #puzzlecompetition #StPeterMN #mnbrewery
🍁 Fall Floral Pumpkin Arrangement 🎃
Join us Tuesday, October 14th from 6-8 PM for an evening of creativity, craft beer, and community at Paddlefish Brewing. We’ll be carving pumpkins and putting together beautiful fall floral arrangements — all supplies provided!
Bring a friend or come as a pair — it’s a perfect fall date night idea. 🌻🍺
Spots are limited, so be sure to pre-register to save your spot with the link in our bio!
🎯 This week at Paddlefish! 🍻
WEDNESDAY – Game Night (6:30 PM)
We’re kicking things off with a Hook & Ring Toss Tournament—test your aim, beat your friends, and the winner takes home a free crowler of choice!
THURSDAY – Burgers & Bingo Night
Order up your favorite Legion burger straight from the taproom (they’re running the burgers!) while you play bingo hosted by the Legion—and yes, beer pairs perfectly with both. 🍔🍺
FRIDAY – Flamingo Flamenco (6–8 PM)
Close out the week with an evening of live flamenco from Molly Kay Stoltz and special guests Twin Cities Flamenco Collective—an unforgettable mix of rhythm, color, and passion. 💃🎶
#paddlefishbrewing #southernmn #mncraftbeer #mnbrewery #thingstodoinmankato #minnesotacraftbeer
Paint & Sip at Paddlefish! 🎨🍺 Join us on October 12th from 2–4 PM for a relaxed afternoon of painting, sipping, and hanging out. A trained local artist will walk you through “Autumn on the Farm”— no experience needed, just a good attitude and maybe a beer in hand.
Bring some friends or fly solo and meet a few new ones — it’s all about good company and a little creativity.
Scan the QR code on the flyer or hit the link in our bio to save your spo!
#PaddlefishBrewing #PaintAndSip #CommunityOnTap #StPeterMN #mncraftbeer
October is here at Paddlefish!🎃
This month is packed with reasons to gather, laugh, and raise a pint together.🍻
From Trivia Mafia nights (Trivia every 1st Thursday + Initials Game Live every 3rd Thursday) to our Bingo & Burgers tradition (every 2nd and 4th Thursday), we’ve got plenty of chances to kick back with great beer and even better company.
Don’t miss our Halloween Bash on Oct. 31st 👻—costumes, cold beer, and community vibes all night long.
Every pint we pour and event we host is about building connection, celebrating creativity, and sharing the craft of quality beer. Come be part of the Paddlefish community this fall. 🍂
📅 Full lineup above — see you in the taproom!
#PaddlefishBrewing #CommunityOnTap #DrinkLocal #mncraftbeer #mncraftbreweries #CraftBeerCommunity
🍂🍺 Oktoberfest is TOMORROW! 🍺🍂
From noon to 10pm the taproom is packed with music, games, contests, prizes, and plenty of beer. 🎶⚒️🍻
Keg racing, hammerschlagen, stein holding, polka jams, lederhosen + dirndl contests, and more—we’ve got a full day lined up and you won’t want to miss it.
Bring your friends, dress festive if you’re feeling bold, and let’s make this a day to remember. Prost! 🍺✨
#Oktoberfest #PaddlefishBrewing #MNBeer #DrinkLocal #mncraftbeer
🍂🍺 Paddlefish Oktoberfest is here! 🍺🍂
This Saturday we’re turning the taproom into a Bavarian-style fest with:
🎶 Live polka band
🔨 Hammer Schlagen & stein holding contests
🍻 Keg rolling races + plenty of games
👔 Best-dressed Lederhosen & Dirndl contest
Marzen flowing, prizes up for grabs, and the taproom all decked out. Plus, thanks to Mark’s Sober Rides, you can get a safe ride to or from your house—or back and forth from Tremendous Brewery—for free.
Grab your crew, bring your steins, and come celebrate fall with us!
#PaddlefishOktoberfest #Prost #mnoktoberfest #paddlefishbrewing #mncraftbeer #mnbrewery
🧠 Trivia Mafia is back at Paddlefish! 🧠
It’s been a minute, but starting Thursday, October 2nd, trivia nights return to the taproom. From then on, join us the first Thursday of every month, 7pm for great beer, great company, and plenty of brain-teasing fun.
🎤 And don’t forget — Initials Game Live now lands on the third Wednesday of each month, kicking off October 16th. Same energy, just a new regular spot on the calendar!
We love hosting nights that bring this community together—so grab your crew, mark those Thursdays, and we’ll see you at Paddlefish. 🍻
#PaddlefishBrewing #TriviaMafia #InitialsGameLive #StPeterMN #MankatoMN #MinnesotaBeer #CommunityOnTap #CraftBeerEvents
🍻 Saint Peter, get ready — Oktoberfest is almost here!
On October 4th, Paddlefish and Tremendous are teaming up for the first-ever Saint Peter Breweries Oktoberfest 🎉 Expect fun events (more details soon!) and, of course, some amazing Oktoberfest beer.
✨ To make it even better, grab our Oktoberfest Punch Card for just $20 at either brewery before the fest:
• 2 beers at Paddlefish
• 2 beers at Tremendous
• Complete the card and your 5th beer is FREE at either spot!
• Buy before October 1st and you’ll also score a BOGO beer to use anytime.
Come raise a stein and celebrate community with us. Prost! 🍂🍺
#Paddlefishbrewing #mnoktoberfest #mnbreweries #drinklocal #mncraftbeer
Lots to look forward to this week! Whether you’re here for Jazz Night, the return of our gold medal–winning Vinter Liv, or Wednesday Game Night at 6:30, you’ll be welcomed with friendly faces, damn good beer, and a whole lot of community. 🍻
#paddlefishbrewing #mncraftbeer #mnbreweries #mncraftbrews
🚨 We’re Hiring! 🚨
At Paddlefish, we believe in building and bettering our communities, one pint at a time. 🍻 We’re passionate about crafting damn good beer and beverages, and we know it takes a strong, team-first culture to make it happen.
If you’re community-minded and want to be part of something bigger than yourself, we want you on our crew!
👉 Apply now through the link in our bio and help us keep raising the bar.
#NowHiring #PaddlefishBrewing #MinnesotaBeer #CommunityFirst #mncraftbeer
✨🎷 This Friday night, the taproom turns into a jazz club! From 7–9pm, we’re hosting the Amy Manette Band — a powerhouse 5-piece bringing soul-stirring jazz and blues that’ll shake you up in the best way.
The show is free, the beer is darn good 🍺, and the vibe is all about building community! Bring a friend, grab a pint, and let’s make it a night worth remembering!
#PaddlefishBrewing #JazzNight #SaintPeterMN #DamnGoodBeer #mncraftbeer #mnbreweries
Shout out to those wonderful folks who came out to our Open Mic event this past Tuesday! Special thanks to our host @chasedburkhart / Chase D. Burkhart Music for cultivating such a fun and welcoming environment for performers of all ages and abilities. Join us again next month! "Every 3rd Tuesday from 6-8pm we`ll be having a ball!"
🎲🍻 Game Night is coming to Paddlefish! 🍻🎲
Starting THIS Wednesday, Sept 25th at 6:30pm, we’re kicking off a new weekly tradition: Paddlefish Game Night.
This first week, we’re going big—a brewery-wide Giant Jenga tournament! 🏆 Come see who can stack, topple, and conquer for prizes like merch + gift cards + crowlers.
Each week after that, we’ll roll out a different game or competition—sometimes a classic, sometimes a surprise.
The point? To gather the community, share some laughs, and enjoy some damn good beer together. 💙🐟
Grab your crew, bring your competitive side, and let’s make Wednesdays the night to be at Paddlefish!
📅 Every Wednesday @ 6:30pm
📍 Paddlefish Brewing
#Paddlefishbrewing #gamenight #mncraftbeer #mncraftbreweries #mncraftbrews
The Saint Peter Art Stroll is stopping by Paddlefish this weekend!
We’re proud to host father/son duo James & Ryan Pedersen, whose welded metal works capture the beauty of the modern landscape. You’ve probably already admired one of their pieces—we loved it so much that it’s a permanent part of Paddlefish (check out the last slide!).
Even better, the Art Stroll’s own printing press will be here—so you can print your own Art Stroll t-shirt while you sip on a pint! 🍺🎨
At Paddlefish, we believe great beer tastes even better when it’s shared in community, surrounded by creativity. Come raise a glass with us and celebrate Saint Peter’s artists this weekend.
#Paddlefishbrewing #mncraftbeer #drinklocal #saintpeterartstroll #mnbreweries
🎉🍂 Oktoberfest is back, and it’s ON TAP NOW! Our rich, malty, perfectly balanced seasonal brew is here to remind you that life is better with damn good beer and good company. 🍺💛
Mark your calendars—we’ll be hosting our annual Oktoberfest celebration on October 4th this year in the taproom! More details coming soon, but we promise it’ll be worth the wait.
Grab your crew and come pull up a stool this week—let’s raise a glass to community, good vibes, and a season of unforgettable sips. 🍻
#Paddlefishbrewing #mncraftbeer #drinklocal #mnoktoberfest #mnbreweries
We’re honored to partner with Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership for Crafting Community this Thursday, Sept 18 from 6–8pm 💙
Come raise a glass with us in support of affordable housing and the incredible work SWMHP is doing. 15% of beverage sales go directly to support their mission.
We’ll have:
🍪 Decorated artisan cookies
🎨 Coaster painting (yep, paint your own & take it home!)
🎶 Live music in the taproom by Chris Bertrand
🥟 Momo’s Tibetan Dumplings food truck parked out front
🍺 And of course, damn good beer
At Paddlefish, community means everything—and we’re proud to come together around a great cause. Hope to see you there!
From before we opened our doors, Dave and his VW bus Sweet Pea have been part of the heartbeat of Paddlefish. Sweet Pea parked in our tap room became a landmark in its own right, even inspiring our On the Road Again Cherry Sour.
Now it’s time for a new chapter: Dave and Sweet Pea are heading back out on the road. She’s off to camping trips and new adventures, and while that means we won’t see her parked outside the taproom anymore, the mark they’ve both left on Paddlefish will always be part of our story.
Dave’s passion, kindness, and dedication to building community have shaped this place in so many lasting ways. So many of you have gotten to know him since we first opened, and his presence around the taproom will truly be missed.
We also want to give a shoutout to his wife, Natalie, whose vision and design turned our space into the cozy, welcoming taproom it is today—a place where community can gather and connect.
So here’s to Dave, to Sweet Pea, and to always finding your way on the road again. 🍻 We’ll miss you—and we’ll be glad to see you pull up again sometime soon!
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