Bent Paddle Brewing Company

Bent Paddle Brewing Company is a microbrewery located in Duluth, Minnesota.

Bent Paddle Brewing Company
LocationDuluth, Minnesota
United States
BentPaddleBrewing.com
Opened2013
Annual production volume13,850 US beer barrels (16,250 hL) in 2015.
Owned byBryon & Karen Tonnis and Colin & Laura Mullen
Active beers
Name Type
Kanu Session Pale Ale
Venture Pilsener Lager
14° ESB Extra Special Amber Ale
Bent Hop Golden IPA
Black Black Ale
Cold Press Black Coffee Ale
Seasonal beers
Name Type
Harness Rye IPA
Pordij Double IPA
Paddle Break Blonde Belgian Style Blonde Ale
Roof Rack Lager Vienna Style Lager
Other beers
Name Type
Lollygagger West Coast Pale Ale
Hop Forest Double IPA
Double Shot Double Black Black Ale

In May 2013, their brewery and taproom opened to the public with distribution of kegs and cans in the Duluth area beginning shortly thereafter.[1] In November 2013, limited distribution of cans to liquor stores in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area began. An expansion was simultaneously announced with a stated goal of expanding production from 4,500 bbl to 8,000 bbl per year. As of 2015, Bent Paddle reported 13,850 bbl produced for the year.[2]

History

It was founded by Bryon & Karen Tonnis and Colin & Laura Mullen. Bryon Tonnis had most recently worked as the head brewer at the Rock Bottom Brewery location in Minneapolis while Colin Mullen had been the head brewer at Barley John's Brew Pub in New Brighton, Minnesota. Karen Tonnis manages the brewery's operations and distribution while Laura Mullen manages outreach and events (areas in which both have prior professional experience).[3]

The origin of the brewery's name comes from both a bent canoe paddle Bryon Tonnis had used to mix his brewing mash as well as the brewers' shared love of canoeing.[4]

The original taproom closed to the public in April 2018, while a new one opened just a block away.[5] The original building remains Bent Paddle's primary brewing facility.

Awards

As part of their "Best of MN" awards, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune named Bent Paddle the best new brewery in Greater Minnesota for 2014.[6] The brewery also won a bronze medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival for their 14° ESB.[7] The same beer won gold at the 2017 festival.[8]

Logo dispute

In August 2014, Long Trail Brewing Company filed a trademark infringement suit against Bent Paddle for using a logo of a hiker with a backpack similar to their own. The suit was amicably settled in December 2014 with Bent Paddle agreeing to discontinue the use of that logo and both breweries making charitable donations to hiking-related groups in one another's states.[9]

References
  1. Renalls, Candace (15 May 2013). "Bent Paddle ready to debut brews". Duluth News-Tribune. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  2. Halter, Nick (13 Nov 2013). "Duluth's Bent Paddle beer hits Twin Cities shelves". Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  3. "Origin Story". Bent Paddle Brewing Company. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
  4. Kaufenberg, Brian. "Bending Tradition: Bent Paddle Adds to the Craft Culture in Duluth". The Growler. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  5. "Bent Paddle to open new taproom in April". Duluth News Tribune. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  6. "Best new brewery in Greater Minnesota - Bent Paddle Brewing Company - 2014 Best of MN". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  7. Agnew, Michael (5 Nov 2014). "Minnesota beers win big at national festival". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  8. "GABF Winners". Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  9. Kennedy, Clare (11 Dec 2014). "Bent Paddle, Vermont brewer end trademark dispute". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. Retrieved 16 April 2015.

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