MINNEAPOLIS, FEBRUARY 5, 2018 – The first-ever brewery and taproom for FINNEGANS Brew Co. will open in the Elliot Park neighborhood of Minneapolis in March 2018 as part of a larger FINNEGANS House development. Led by Head Brewer Ryan Mihm, and powered by a partnership with Badger Hill Brewing Co., the FINNEGANS Brewery & Taproom will feature four new beers, an exclusive members-only Brewer’s Den social club, and the Brewer’s Tasting Table, where groups of up to 12 can book an up-close view of operations, along with dinner and a beer pairing.
“With this new downtown brewery we can interact with our customers, sample experimental small-batches and personally share FINNEGANS’ mission of turning beer into food for the hungry in our community,” said Mihm. “The new taproom and partnership with Badger Hill allows us to really push the brand and expand beyond our classic, beloved brews with some new, interesting options. We’re always going to honor our Irish heritage, but we’re excited to go a bit more global and offer a Farmhouse Ale, Czech Pilsner and our first barrel aged offering, among others.”
These new craft beers launching in March/April 2018 include, Cluster Truck (IPA), Tipped Cow (Farmhouse Ale), East Town (Czech Pilsner), and Bière de Mars (first barrel aged brew). The FINNEGANS beer lineup will continue to build throughout the year, with other innovative releases, like a Märzen style lager and Norwegian style porter. Also timed with the launch of FINNEGANS Brewery & Taproom, the company’s current brews—Irish Ale, Blonde Ale, and Dead Irish Poet Extra Stout—will join the new beers in a switch to cans. Beers new and old will be available on tap at the brewery, but also in-store wherever FINNEGANS is sold.
“The taproom represents numerous, progressive changes for our brand—a new public space for our fans to gather, a new portfolio of beers to sample and a new opportunity to create positive impact in our community,” said Jacquie Berglund, FINNEGANS Founder and CEO. “Although FINNEGANS Brewery & Taproom is its own separate space, having it under the same roof as the other elements of FINNEGANS House allows us to give our customers a look behind the curtain and a chance to more directly engage with our mission of social change.”
The House That FINNEGANS Built
The FINNEGANS House development is a four-story building that features the first FINNEGANS Brewery & Taproom, a members-only Brewer’s Den social club and the FINNovation Lab, an entrepreneurship incubator and co-working space in partnership with Impact Hub MSP. The FINNEGANS House is a part of a larger mixed-use development by Kraus-Anderson in the Elliot Park neighborhood in East Town Minneapolis.
The interior of the brewery and the building was designed by ESG Architects with FINNEGANS’ Irish spirit in mind. Visitors will find rich woodwork, emerald textiles, whiskey-hued leather and custom carvings of mythical Irish symbols by local woodworker Nathan Stanley.
The additional components of FINNEGANS House will open in April 2018, following the March debut of FINNEGANS Brewery & Taproom. To learn more, visitFINNEGANS.org/FINNEGANSHouse.
Getting Social at the Brewer’s Den
Located on the second floor of FINNEGANS House, the Brewer’s Den is an innovative downtown business and social club where people who are passionate about craft beer and doing good for their community can network and collaborate. Its members will have access to a private, VIP space with state-of-the-art meeting rooms, multiple lounges, shuffleboard and social events. They will also receive special previews of new, experimental brews, and the opportunity to influence which recipes go into market. Members are welcome to entertain local and out-of-town guests inside the Brewer’s Den and can also reserve the space to host private events.
There are multiple levels of membership to the Brewer’s Den, ranging from $27-$81 per month. Varying perks include free monthly growler refills, FINNEGANS gift cards and a Brewing 101 class with Head Brewer Ryan Mihm. In honor of the brand’s charitable mission, 75 percent of membership dues will be given to the FINNEGANS Community Fund, a 501c3 non-profit that is dedicated to alleviating hunger and supporting social business entrepreneurs inside the new FINNovation Lab. To learn more or purchase a Brewer’s Club membership, visitFINNEGANS.org/BrewersDen.
Incubating Entrepreneurs in the FINNovation Lab
The fourth floor of FINNEGANS House will feature the latest expansion of FINNEGANS’ social mission—the FINNovation Lab. In close partnership with Impact Hub MSP, the two organizations will turn the space into an incubator and accelerator for the entrepreneurs and staff of emerging brands that give back. A first-of-its-kind in the Twin Cities, the FINNovation Lab + Impact Hub MSP will not only offer a shared co-working space, but will help to foster and build social good brands by providing one-on-one mentorship, business workshops and resources, and more.
The FINNovation Lab is slated to open in May 2018. To learn more and inquire about co-working space availability, visit FINNEGANS.org/FINNovationLab.