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 Beer Drop Alert 🍺
Katie’s Ale – 7.2% ABV
We brewed this historical ale-style bock in partnership with the Women of the ELCA to honor the 500th anniversary of Martin & Katie Luther’s marriage.
🍌 Notes of banana & clove
🔥 Fermented warm, cold conditioned
📜 Inspired by Reformation-era brewing
$1 per pint supports the Women of the ELCA.
We held a DIY doormat painting night a couple of weeks ago and it was a blast! From “Buzz Off” to “Moove On In,” the creativity was flowing 🍻🎨
We love putting on unique events like this. Got another fun idea? Drop it in the comments!
It’s also going to be an eventful weekend, especially this Friday…
🍺 Katie’s Ale releases Friday @ 7pm (A tasty and unique beer—it’s a German Eisenbock!)
🎶 Matthew Aitch live Friday @ 6–9pm
🌻 Also catch us pouring at the Young John Denver Fest in Minnesota Square Park starting @ 5pm
🎉 Happy Belated Birthday to the one and only Auntie Wendy—the legend behind Auntie Wendy’s Kettle Corn and a true Paddlefish favorite!
She just wrapped up her incredible career at Gustavus and is kicking off retirement the right way—with a bag of her famous kettle corn and a half drank/half full pint of her go-to beer: Jolly Giant. 🍿🍺
Wendy, we’re so lucky to know you (and snack on your kettle corn). Cheers to your next chapter—and to another great year ❤️ Make sure to raise a glass and grab some of her infamous Kettle Corn in the taproom!
🎯 PAUSE CHALLENGE: Try to land on your favorite Paddlefish Flagship Beer! Screenshot and send back when you get the perfect match! 🍺
Unboxing one of our new beer signs has never been so exciting.
Make sure to try our new Sauna Beer this week! 4%ABV, easily crushable for a hot, sauna-like day.
🧖 Introducing our SAUNA BEER! A botanical Nordic lager brewed in collaboration with @superiorsaunas and inspired by the steamy stillness of a northwoods sauna.
🌲 Brewed with white pine needles, elderflower, eucalyptus, juniper berries, and birch leaves, it’s a layered yet easy-drinking lager that tastes like sitting deep in the woods after a good sweat.
🌿 At just 4.5% ABV, it’s perfect for crushing without consequence — light, botanical, and crisp.
And yes, we’re serving it with a cedar stir stick on the side to add a hit of sauna aromatics.
Releasing today at 5 PM, only at Paddlefish 🍻
🍻 JUNE EVENTS UNLOCKED at Paddlefish 🔓
Fri. June 6
🧖♂️ 5 PM – Sauna Beer Release (Botanical Nordic Lager)
🎶 6–9 PM – Live Music: Traveled Ground
Tues. June 10
🎨 6–8 PM – Paint & Sip Night (link in bio)
Fri. June 13
🎶 6–9 PM – Live Music: Matthew Aitch
🍺 7 PM – Katie’s Ale Release (German Eisenbock)
Tues. June 17
🎤 6–8 PM – Open Mic Night
Fri. June 20
🎶 6–9 PM – Live Music: Trent Shaw
Sat. June 21
⚠️ Taproom CLOSED for private event
Thurs. June 26
🧠 7–8:30 PM – Initials Game Live!
Fri. June 27
🎤 6–9 PM – Karaoke Night
🌮 Hungry? Be sure to check our food truck calendar on our website or the FB Events tab to see who’s rolling in each night!
🎥 We were honored to be back on Kato Living this past Friday to talk about our World Beer Cup win and the return of our gold medal–winning Scandinavian Raw Ale, Vinter Liv! Huge thanks to hosts Jackson (who couldn’t get enough of the beer) and Nataliya for having us on the show! Your enthusiasm about the win means so much to us.
🚨 Our re-release event on Sunday was a wild one!
We sold out of our final keg of Vinter Liv in just 40 minutes! We know some of you drove a long way and missed out, and we’re truly sorry. But don’t worry, we’ll be brewing it again in a few months, and we promise to keep you posted on the return.
📺 Missed the segment? Check it out [link in bio]!
🍺 And if you’re craving something equally botanical and refreshing, our next New Month, New Beer release drops this Friday at 5pm—a Sauna Beer brewed with white pine, elderflower, birch leaves, juniper, eucalyptus AND cedar wood. It’s like stepping into the North Woods in a pint glass—crisp, relaxing, and just 4.5% ABV. More on that tomorrow!
A huge shoutout to everyone who rolled through for our Road Trip Celebration and helped us raise a glass to John Jensen last week! The man is a legend—VW lover, Paddlefish superfan, and cancer survivor.
To mark the occasion, John commissioned a custom trophy for the “1st Annual Johnny Drive In”—topped with the phrase “Let the Good Times Roll,” a perfect nod to our one-year anniversary theme earlier this year :)
These are the kinds of celebrations we live for at Paddlefish, especially when they’re all about community.
We had chrome classics in the parking lot, Squid City Slingers jamming inside, VW cookies, and the debut of our custom VW flight boards. Pictured are our two Road Trip Raffle winners who got to take her out for the first spin!
(🚐 Want to try the VW bus flight board? Just ask your Paddlefish beertender for a Road Trip Flight!)
It’s definitely nights like this that remind us why we do what we do—bringing people together over great beer, good music, and shared stories. Whether you’ve been here 48 times or it was your first Paddlefish pint, this community always shows up with incredible heart!
🎉 Happy Birthday to one of our favorite faces behind the bar—Ryan! 🍻
You’ve seen him slingin’ pints and holding it down on busy weekends as Taproom Manager, but did you know…
🧠 He can wiggle his ears
🎖️ He’s a military vet, former police officer, and now studying nursing (career #3!)
🍕 He’d eat pizza every day, no questions asked
🎄 Favorite movie? Christmas Vacation
🐶 He’s team dogs, team coffee, and team Jolly Giant Hazy IPA (his favorite beer on tap!)
🎶 Dream Concert: Eric Church
If you see him this week, wish this guy a happy birthday!!
Big moment at Paddlefish—U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar stopped by to congratulate our team on bringing home a World Beer Cup Gold for our Vinter Liv Scandinavian Raw Ale!
She also spent time hearing our story and learning the real challenges small breweries face like rising costs, labor, and distribution.
You might be wondering, “Did she try the Vinter Liv?” Yes, and she loved it!
We’re proud to celebrate our craft, our team and our amazing community that built Paddlefish with us. We’re also proud to represent Minnesota craft beer and even prouder to do it from St. Peter. 🍻
🎉 Sunday, June 1st, 2-4pm: Vinter Liv Re-Release Event. One keg remains—when it’s gone, it’s gone! (Until we brew the next batch in a couple of months!)
🎣 Big congrats to Jason Heidemann; our Fishing License Raffle winner from our May 10th Fishing Opener Celebration!
He finally reeled in his prize the other day and celebrated the right way, with a pint of Pearly Gates Irish Dry Stout and some sunshine by the bus. 🍻☀️
Congrats, Jason and happy fishing! 🐟🍺
We’ve got a doozy of a week! From Initials Game to Vinter Liv’s gold-medal return, to a new digital monthly membership, it’s GBOTH (gonna be off the hook)!
🇺🇸 Monday – Memorial Day
Open 12–8PM
$1 off pints all day
$2 off for veterans, active military & first responders
🍎 Tuesday – Educators & Member Appreciation
$1 off all day
🔥 Wednesday –
Smokin’ Lady BBQ | 4–8PM
Charm Bar (DIY keychains, etc!) | 6–8PM
🎟️ Limited spots left – link in bio
🌮 Thursday –
Russell’s Traveling Kitchen | 4–8PM
The Initials Game | 7PM
🍽️ Friday –
Pep Island Food Truck | 4–8PM
🍖 Saturday –
S&B BBQ | 5–8PM
🏅 Sunday –
Yoga + Beer | 10–11AM | $20
Vinter Liv Re-Release | 2–4PM – LAST KEG of the gold medal batch!
🎉 Paddle Pass Membership Launch!
BOGO beers, monthly crowlers, and more for $25/month! Sign up on our website starting June 1st or talk to your beertender!
Which day are we seeing you? 👀
🌺 Our patio got a major glow-up thanks to a very special green thumb—Donna Long (aka Dave’s mom!) She spent the day planting geraniums, mint, and marigolds, and we’re loving the color and charm it brings to the patio space. Swing by, grab a pint, and surround yourself with the blooms!
Your craft beer adventure starts now. Our custom VW bus flight boards are here—and ready to roll. Ask your Paddlefish beertender how you can take her for a test drive
Highlights from Open Mic last night! We had a great turn out of both new and returning performers as well as people who came out to support them. Also many engaging conversations and joyful moments that reflect the fun and welcoming nature of our growing Open Mic community. Thanks to @chasedburkhart / Chase D. Burkhart Music for setting up and running sound, mc/hosting, and promoting this special event "Every Third Tuesday From 6-8pm"
🚐 Our Road Trip Celebration cruises into Paddlefish this Friday—and we’re unveiling something groovy for the ride. ✌️
Introducing the Road Trip Flight: a custom-built, VW-inspired beer flight board handcrafted by our friend Brad Carlson (@mnwoodbee). Only 2 exist, and you could be one of the first to use it!
Want a chance to take it for a spin?
Enter our $2 raffle on Friday to be one of the two lucky winners who get the very first Road Trip Flights—on the house.
Also rolling in on Friday:
• 🚗 Classic cars
• 🎶 Live music by @squidcityslingers (7–9pm)
• 🌮 On Every Corner Food Truck (4–8pm)
Bigggg week ahead at Paddlefish!! See you at ALL the events on ALL the days!! 🤪 But seriously… even if you can only make it to one, don’t miss Friday’s Road Trip Celebration—it’s the big one! Live music, classic cars, and great food! 🚐🎶🍻
🎤 TUES 5/13 – $1 Off Pints All Day for Educators & Members + Open Mic Night (6–8PM)
🍗 WED 5/14 – Doc E’s BBQ 4–8PM & YWCA Fundraiser + Tiny Home Raffle (6–8PM)
🎨 THURS 5/15 – Get crafty at Doormat Painting Night (6–8PM)
🚐 FRI 5/16 – Road Trip Celebration 3–9PM, On Every Corner Food Truck 4–8PM & Live Music by Squid City Slingers (7–9PM)
🌮 SAT 5/17 – On Every Corner Food Truck All Day (12–8PM)
🍖 SUN 5/18 – Smokin’ Lady BBQ & $15 Growler Fills (12–5PM)
Come on out for our montly open mic tomorrow May 20 from 6-8pm! We`ve had such a great gathering of talented local musicians for each event. If you have been itching to get up on a mic and show folks what you`ve got, this is your chance!! Our host Chase D. Burkhart cultivates welcoming atmosphere, our staff serve up tasty beverages, and our fellow musical troubadours would love to connect with you. See you there!
🎉 Happy Birthday, Joe! 🎉
When he’s not brewing your favorite brewskis, Joe’s off strumming his guitar, exploring the Boundary Waters, or proving that pizza and a lager is peak fine dining.
Joe is also known for diving headfirst into life’s biggest philosophical questions—like does folding pizza make it a sandwich and if beer is liquid bread, is he technically a baker?
Make sure to swing by Paddlefish, raise a glass, and wish this guy a happy flippin birthday!
📍 Joe’s Favorites:
🍺 Paddlefish Beer: Imperial Mountain Mama
🍻 Go-To Style: Czech Pilsner
🎶 Hidden/Not-So-Hidden Talent: Folk singer/songwriter
🌍 Coolest Trip: Yosemite National Park
☕ Hangout: @riverrockcoffee
🛠️ Weirdest Job: Discount Tire Technician
🎧 Guilty Pleasure Song: “We Built This City”
#HappyBirthdayJoe #PaddlefishBrewing #FolkStarBeertender #DrinkLocal
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