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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!
🎁 Give Away Alert! 🎁
We at Paddlefish Brewing are anxious to get up and running so we’re giving away TWO Paddlefish Beanies and a couple of koozies to get us into the holiday spirit!
To enter, follow these simple instructions below.
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For an extra entry, share this post onto your story and tag us!
Giveaway ends Saturday night at 11:59pm 🕛 Winners will be chosen Sunday, Dec 3rd at noon CST and announced/notified through tagged story or a DM from @paddlefishbrewing. Winners pick up their beanie and koozie in our taproom (when we officially open) OR can have them shipped directly to you if located within the continental US.
Good luck and keep an eye out for more holdiay giveaways from us!
Per Instagram rules, this promotion is in no way sponsored, administered, or associated with Instagram, Inc. By entering, entrants confirm to release Instagram of all responsibility and agree to Instagram`s terms of use.
Introducing another one of our eight brews! 🍻
Jolly Giant Hazy IPA:
Brewed with a blend of 2-row malt, white wheat, flaked oats, and Cara-pils, this hazy IPA boasts a silky-smooth body and a cloudy with-a-chance-of-rain appearance. We’ve amped up the hops with the dynamic duo of Citra and Mosaic, delivering a juicy explosion of citrus notes tropical fruit. It’s a refreshing whimsical journey through hazy landscapes of flavor that will leave your spirit jolly.
ABV: 6.8% IBUs: 24
History:
Upon entering the Minnesota River Valley, you can expect a friendly welcome from the Green Giant himself as you head southbound on 169 👋 Upon entering St. Peter, you can expect to meet his cooler cousin that lives in the Paddlefish taproom…
Hoppy, hazy and always ready to party, this Jolly Giant is here for a good time!
Trivia: When did the Green Giant make his first appearance?
A.) 1903
B.) 1916
C.) 1925
D.) 1938
Fun fact: He was named by a particularly large variety of pea harvested and sold by the Minnesota Valley Canning Company! 🫛
Introducing our Interior Designer and interior design palette! 🎨✨🛋️🍻👷♀️
Natalie Anderson Interior Design has dedicated many creative hours to designing a space for your community, family and friends to gather, share stories, make memories, listen to live music, and taste delicious beer! 🍻
From lighting selections and finishes, art installations, furniture selections and plans, coordination with contractors and consultants, Natalie has poured her heart into every detail. Focusing on the Paddlefish Brewing core values, Natalie has consulted as Interior Designer and Creative Director, bringing to life our vision for the brewery with a cohesive branding design and experience.
We can’t wait to unveil this taproom for you to enjoy, knowing it is truly your space to gather!
Swipe through Natalie’s Design Palette for a sneak peek at what you will experience at Paddlefish Brewery!
ALL BREWERY OWNERS: If you’re looking for professional interior design services whether it’s an art consultation, a bathroom refresh or a full taproom renovation, reach out to Natalie Anderson, IIDA at [email protected]
Lights, camera, backsplash!
We want to take a minute to THANK YOU for all of your support and generosity as we surpassed our goal of $30,000 on Kickstarter! 🙏 🍻 🎉
Your belief in us to bring a brewery back to St. Peter after 80+ years has been incredible.
Your support also helps us a TON as we put the finishing touches in our taproom…This means YOU are close to the moment you walk through our doors and enjoy a pint with us! 🍻
Your t-shirts, hats, pint glasses, koozies, ceramic mugs, and free beer await! Opening date coming verrry soon!
Holy buckets, we only have $3k left to hit to our $30k goal by midnight!
Every time we see a donation come in, we are beyond grateful and become more and more antsy to open our doors 🎉 We’ll keep you posted on our opening day very soon—you can almost smell the beer as you drive down the main drag 🚗🍺
Want to help us reach our goal? Head to our website for more info before the clock hits midnight 🕛 (Link in bio or head to paddlefishbrewing.com)
Introducing another one of our eight brews we`ll be serving!
Almost Capital APA:
This APA offers a rich, caramel-like sweetness, complemented by a smooth, creamy texture. We`ve hopped it up with Cascade and Fuggles, creating a harmonious blend of floral and earthy notes to make you go, ‘Mmm, oh for fun. That’s nice’. Cheers to almost being Minnesota’s capital in 1857!
ABV: 5% IBUs: 37
History:
Did ya know that Saint Peter was supposed to be Minnesota`s capital?
As the sayings go, first is the worst, second is the best...
Or does ‘almost’ only count in horseshoes & hand grenades? Whatever saying you adhere to, one thing is certain; this APA is a winner.
It`s not too late to get your name on a brick, get some sweet swag, be part of our ceramic mug club, or become a lifetime member!
We went from $17,081 to $24,206 over the last 5 days—amazing!! Help us reach that $30k goal by midnight Friday! 🎉
Head over to our website to learn more. Link in bio or head to paddlefishbrewing.com
Your support has humbled us and given us so much joy—we can’t wait to open our doors for you! 🍻
Introducing Sweet Pea!!
This 1976 Volkswagen Westfalia, owned by Paddlefish co-owner, Dave Long, will be living pretty in the taproom during the cold months, and parked outside in the more pleasant months. She may also go missing 1 or 2 weeks of the year to use her PTO for vacation.
Sweet Pea has travelled to many destinations, has seen many things, and has been on several long journeys including going up and down the west coast, all across Route 66, up and down The Great River Road, and strolling up to the north shore/Madeline Island.
Annnnd she’s excited for her next adventure to St. Peter, Minnesota! 🍻
Make sure you stop by the taproom to check her out and take a picture with her when we open. She’s very photogenic! 📸✌️
📣 Our Kickstarter will be closing soon! But don`t worry, it`s not too late to be part of our ceramic mug club or become a lifetime member! Head over to our website to learn more 🍺
Link in bio or head to
paddlefishbrewing.com
We’re currently at $17,081 and shooting for $30k! Thank you for your support!!
Our FIRST brew fest!
Even though we weren’t able to serve beer (since we’re not open yet), we served beautiful smiles and sold our merch at the Autumn Brew Review on Oct 15th 🍻
We met lots of excited people and also connected with several other Minnesota breweries who shared helpful advice and are spreading the brews about us!
Can’t wait to do more beer fests and pour our tasty brews for you 🤤
Thanks to Dusty @lakerpromotions for our sweet tent and table cover!
It’s a sign we’re getting closer to you drinking a brew with us! 🍻
It’s also a sign you have 15 days left to help us with our Kickstarter! Thank you sooo much for all of your support thus far! We’re currently at $14,156 and we’re striving to hit $30,000 🎉🍺
Thank you @signpromankato for creating and installing our sweet sign!
Introducing another one of our eight brews for you to dream about over the weekend!
First Apostle Porter:
This dark and robust porter combines a symphony of malts, including 2-row, Roasted Barley, Flaked Oats, Chocolate Malt, and much morrrre. The result? A rich, velvety body with layers of roasted coffee and chocolate flavors that dance on your palette. We’ve rounded it out the earthy notes of Fuggles hops, making this Porter an irresistible choice for those seeking a bold and full-bodied craft beer experience. Embrace this porter that’s as strong and bold as the first apostle himself!
ABV: 6% IBU: 28
History:
We like to think that as the patron saint of fishermen, Saint Peter would like the idea of a brewery named after a fish in the town of his namesake.
Maybe we`re just fishing, but after a long day of walking on water, there`s nothing quite like kicking back with an ice cold crowler of First Apostle Porter.
Cheers to a brew that connects the past with the present in a delightful and flavorful way 🍻
The chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!!
We’ve just added an extra way to get your hands on one of our fancy schmancy handmade ceramic mugs!!
$150: Annual Mug Share Membership:
In addition to having your own ceramic mug that lives in the taproom for the year, you also get…
∙20oz pours for the price of 16oz in your fancy mug
∙ Two free beer tokens
∙ Monthly member discount night
∙ Free crowler when we officially open (and when you renew)
∙ 10% off all merch for the rest of 2023 and all of 2024
∙ Free pour on your birthday
• The mug is all yours until the end of 2024, with first dibs to renew and hold on to it for yet another year!
(Those who have already signed up are automatically included in this deal)
$500: Lifetime Ceramic Mug Membership:
Includes benefits of Annual Mug Share Membership AND 1 shirt 👕 , 1 hat🧢 , 1 pint glass, AND your name on a brick 🧱. Your fancy schmancy mug stays on our mug wall for life, but stays true to you.
Check out our link in bio for more ways to contribute to our Kickstarter! 21 days left! 📅
Today’s the day! 💥
Paddlefish Brewing’s Kickstarter will open at 9:00 am on our website!
Click the link in our bio or go to paddlefishbrewing.com!
🍻Cheers 🍻
Introducing another one of our eight brews before our Kickstarter launches on our website tomorrow! 🍻
Engesser Lager:
This lager is a testament to simplicity and drinkability. Its light, crisp, golden hue and clean, smooth taste make it the perfect companion for a sunny day or a casual evening. Raise a glass to uncomplicated enjoyment with our Light American Lager—cheers!
ABV: 4.1% IBU: 10
History:
In its history, The Engessers are likely Saint Peter`s most curious family. Owners of the first brewery in town & also the traveling circus, the
family definitely made a mark.
(Engesser Brewing: 1856-1942)
Whether you`re under the big top or visiting the taproom in the near future, there`s sure to be fun. Barley, hops, and yeast... oh my! Quit clowning around and give this lager a try.
Quiz: Does anyone know where their brewery was located??
Fun fact: In the circus picture, you’ll see a black arrow pointing to a building. That’s where Paddlefish Brewing will be!
Ready to become a LIFETIME member at Paddlefish?!
Starting on October 17th, you can enroll to be part of our lifetime membership club, annual membership club, OR if that’s not your jam, you can get some other sweet backer benefits when you give! You can also be part of our exclusive Handmade Ceramic Mug Club!
When and where does it start?
Oct 17th, 9am on our website (paddlefishbrewing.com)
How long does it go for?
30 days! Until Nov 17th
Want to see a full list of the benefits and memberships before we start?? Sign up for our email list on our website!
Let’s go Twins! ⚾️ You can rest assured we’ll have your favorite game(s) on when we open!
What’s your go-to brew at the ballpark? 🍺
These shirts are sofffffft 👕
Our Kickstarter kicks off on October 17th on our website, which means you can get this shirt (or tank) when you help us fund our project!
We’ll have several different tiers of backer benefits, ranging anywhere from $1-$2,500+, including things like lifetime and annual memberships, mug clubs (a glass mug club AND an exclusive hand-made ceramic mug club), koozies, pint glasses, a limited edition long t-shirt, wood coasters, FREE BEER, these t-shirts, and much more!
Your donation will help us ensure we create a taproom that serves delicious beer, highlights local artists and creates a space that nurtures community 🍺 🎶 🎉
Which color and style fits your vibe??
🍺 We’re hiring beertenders!! 🍺
Want to join the Paddlefish team?? We’re looking for fun, passionate and knowledgeable part-time beertenders who share our love for craft brews and great customer service ⭐️
If you`re ready to let the good brews pour, visit the link in our bio and apply now! 🍺 (paddlefishbrewing.com—>Job Openings)
Want more info or have a question? Drop us a line at [email protected]
