Paddlefish Brewing
Our Beer

About us

learn more about paddlefish brewing co.

meet the crew

Click on any of the photos below to view each team member’s bio!

Dave Long

Owner/General Manager

Eric Johnson

Owner/Business Manager

Luke Dragseth

Owner/Head Brewer

Izzy Long

Dog Ambassador

our story

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!

OUR HISTORY
Reviews
4.7 Over 77 Reviews
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Ethan Anderson 2 weeks ago
Best brewery in the St. Peter Mankato area. Awesome beer and excellent atmosphere. If you are into craft beer it's a must go!
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Lisa Cummiskey 2 weeks ago
Good recommendation. . Nice armosphere
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Scott Richards 2 weeks ago
What a great place! The boho ambience, the friendly service, and great selection of drinks (beer, N/A options) makes this one of the best brewery experiences in Greater Minnesota.
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Dave Grenwis 3 weeks ago
Excellent beer and atmosphere- plus they’re dog friendly! And who wouldn’t want all of that before visiting family!
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Pam Menk 2 months ago
We visit the brewery occasionally and we are always impressed with everything. The beer is very good and the staff are all very awesome. They always take the time to at least say hi. Dave and Ryan always go above and beyond, they are great people. The atmosphere is very positive and relaxing at the same time. We are huge fans of the brewery.
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Miranda Parrott 2 months ago
The wild rice, bread stick, & beer special was perfect! The staff were soooo friendly and the atmosphere was enjoyable. They have the coolest merch for sale too! If you enjoy axe throwing,
music, BEER, & good vibes.....you must come! Awesome brewery!
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Marlo Eder 2 months ago
Love everything about this brewery! Always enjoy our visit when we come into town, never disappointed! Love all the regular brews and tried the Small Batch Pumpkin Pie this time - YUM! Keep up the great work!
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Jason Pawelsky 2 months ago
My family and I stopped in at Paddlefish Brewing for the first time last Saturday afternoon and had a great time trying out their beer selection and playing card games.

I really enjoyed a few of their beers (Oh Fer Cute IPA and Red Amber) and the taproom is very nice, spacious and has a super cool VW bus inside for photo ops.

The best part was we were staying at Riverside Campground and it was just a short 1 block walk to get to the brewery. I definitely recommend stopping at Paddlefish if you're a beer or seltzer lover and want to try a new place. There are even a few places to grab food that are just across the street!
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Shawn Myers 2 months ago
Great selection of beers. Rotating food truck options depending on the day. Fun vibe and relaxed atmosphere. When we went there was live music but I am not sure if that’s a daily thing or just weekends. We went on a Saturday.
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🚑 Cheers to making a difference, one pint at a time! Thanks to your amazing support and love for Ambeerlance, we raised $587.35 to help River’s Edge Hospital get closer to funding their new ambulance. 🙌💙

Your contributions this year are making a real impact, and we’re so proud to be part of this incredible community effort 🍻 Let’s keep ‘er going into 2025!

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🚑 Cheers to making a difference, one pint at a time! Thanks to your amazing support and love for Ambeerlance, we raised $587.35 to help River’s Edge Hospital get closer to funding their new ambulance. 🙌💙 Your contributions this year are making a real impact, and we’re so proud to be part of this incredible community effort 🍻 Let’s keep ‘er going into 2025!
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🎉 Big Milestone Alert! 🎉
We had the honor of being the **250th Minnesota brewery** for this amazing couple yesterday! They chose to celebrate this incredible achievement with us, complete with free cupcakes, their festive ‘250’ hats, and their adorable pup celebrating his 54th brewery milestone. 🐾🍺

Cheers to them for making us part of such a special journey—how’d we get so lucky?! We’re so inspired by their love for Minnesota craft beer and beyond grateful to have been part of this unforgettable milestone. 💛

What brewery milestones have you hit?

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🎉 Big Milestone Alert! 🎉 We had the honor of being the **250th Minnesota brewery** for this amazing couple yesterday! They chose to celebrate this incredible achievement with us, complete with free cupcakes, their festive ‘250’ hats, and their adorable pup celebrating his 54th brewery milestone. 🐾🍺 Cheers to them for making us part of such a special journey—how’d we get so lucky?! We’re so inspired by their love for Minnesota craft beer and beyond grateful to have been part of this unforgettable milestone. 💛 What brewery milestones have you hit?
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From all of us at Paddlefish, THANK YOU for making this first year unforgettable. You are the heart of what makes this whole thing tick—our customers, staff and long-distance fans alike. We hope you raise a glass of our brew at your table this Thanksgiving—cheers to you, our Paddlefish family! 🍺

What’s one thing you are thankful for this year??

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From all of us at Paddlefish, THANK YOU for making this first year unforgettable. You are the heart of what makes this whole thing tick—our customers, staff and long-distance fans alike. We hope you raise a glass of our brew at your table this Thanksgiving—cheers to you, our Paddlefish family! 🍺 What’s one thing you are thankful for this year??
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🍺 Monday:
Reminder that we’re now open Mondays from 4-8pm! Stop by for Happy Hour from 4-6pm with $1 off pints to start your Thanksgiving week right.

🍎 Tuesday:
It’s Educator Tuesday! Teachers, professors, and school staff get $2 off pints all day because you deserve it. Members, you get $2 off too—cheers to perks! 🍺

👑 Wednesday (Friendsgiving/Beersgiving):
The day before Thanksgiving is made for gatherings, so we’ve got $5 Gustie Golden pints all day long. Whether it’s Friendsgiving or Beersgiving, we’re here for it 🍺

🦃 Thursday:
We’re closed for Thanksgiving—enjoy the holiday with your loved ones!

👜 Black Friday & Small Business Saturday:
Special hours—open early at 11am both days! 🎁 Big deals happening:
✨ Merch bundles
✨ Gift card bonuses
✨ Crowler Cards
Shop small, drink local, and score some great deals!

🧘 🏈 Sunday:
Kick off the day with Morning Yoga at 10am. 🧘‍♀️ Bring your mat, water bottle, and $20, and enjoy a free drink after class!
Then join us for the Vikings vs. Cardinals Watch Party starting at noon—get $2 off pints during the game. Plus, enjoy $15 growler fills and $1 off your first pint on Sundays.

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🍺 Monday: Reminder that we’re now open Mondays from 4-8pm! Stop by for Happy Hour from 4-6pm with $1 off pints to start your Thanksgiving week right. 🍎 Tuesday: It’s Educator Tuesday! Teachers, professors, and school staff get $2 off pints all day because you deserve it. Members, you get $2 off too—cheers to perks! 🍺 👑 Wednesday (Friendsgiving/Beersgiving): The day before Thanksgiving is made for gatherings, so we’ve got $5 Gustie Golden pints all day long. Whether it’s Friendsgiving or Beersgiving, we’re here for it 🍺 🦃 Thursday: We’re closed for Thanksgiving—enjoy the holiday with your loved ones! 👜 Black Friday & Small Business Saturday: Special hours—open early at 11am both days! 🎁 Big deals happening: ✨ Merch bundles ✨ Gift card bonuses ✨ Crowler Cards Shop small, drink local, and score some great deals! 🧘 🏈 Sunday: Kick off the day with Morning Yoga at 10am. 🧘‍♀️ Bring your mat, water bottle, and $20, and enjoy a free drink after class! Then join us for the Vikings vs. Cardinals Watch Party starting at noon—get $2 off pints during the game. Plus, enjoy $15 growler fills and $1 off your first pint on Sundays.
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🎉 Ope, look at that! Our Oh Fer Cute Cold IPA has landed at @kyatchi in South Minneapolis 🍺✨ This crisp, refreshing brew pairs perfectly with their incredible sushi and hot dogs. Swing by, grab a pint, and enjoy a taste of Paddlefish in the city! 🐟🍻

Tag your BFF beer buddies and let us know what you’re pairing it with! 🍣🌭

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🎉 Ope, look at that! Our Oh Fer Cute Cold IPA has landed at @kyatchi in South Minneapolis 🍺✨ This crisp, refreshing brew pairs perfectly with their incredible sushi and hot dogs. Swing by, grab a pint, and enjoy a taste of Paddlefish in the city! 🐟🍻 Tag your BFF beer buddies and let us know what you’re pairing it with! 🍣🌭
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WE WILL BE CLOSED
THURS MAR 14TH

Reopening Friday, March 15th!

We are in the process of brewing more beer in our new, larger tanks so we don’t have to do this in the future! Thanks for your patience!