Cuyuna Brewing

What Cuyuna Brewing does

Cuyuna Brewing Company is a family-owned craft brewery founded in 2015 by Nick and Laura Huisinga and operated from a single location at 1 East Main Street in Crosby, Minnesota, within the historic Young Building. The brewery produces a portfolio of seven core beers (including Yawkey Ale, Crusher IPA, Ranger Strong, and Silver Dollar Lager), two ciders, and a rotating slate of seven seasonal or limited-release SKUs spanning IPAs, stouts, lagers, a bourbon barrel-aged quadrupel, and specialty styles such as a Rauchbier and a Radlermass. Operations use traditional brewing methods including a gluten-reduction process for beer and cider, with products distributed through refillable growlers, crowler jars, and crowler cans in addition to draft service.

The go-to-market is predominantly direct-to-consumer through the Crosby taproom and a second-floor private event venue called The Vault, which accommodates groups of 50-120+ guests. Wholesale revenue is generated through on-tap distribution to five named regional hospitality partners — Ruttgers, Grand View Lodge, Breezy Point Resort (The North Star), Iron Range Eatery, and UpNorth Social — across the Cuyuna Lakes and Iron Range tourism corridors. Branded merchandise is sold via a Squareup online storefront, and on-site food is supplied through a co-located vendor partnership with Burritos California.

The business model layers unit-priced beverage sales (pints at $7-8, growler fills at $19-21, crowler packaging at $9-14), private event hosting fees, wholesale draft margins, and merchandise sales. Customer segments include local Crosby residents, regional Minnesota visitors, mountain biking tourists drawn to the adjacent Cuyuna trail system, and private event hosts. A cause-marketing hook — $1 per pint of Ranger Strong donated to the CI School District at-risk student fund — and beer names tied to local heritage support brand differentiation in a small-town craft segment.

Name

Cuyuna Brewing

Legal name

Cuyuna Brewing Company

Website

https://cuyunabrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cuyuna Brewing is a family-owned craft brewery in Crosby, Minnesota operating a taproom and private event space (The Vault), producing a portfolio of core and seasonal beers and ciders, and distributing on-tap to regional Minnesota resorts and restaurants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Taproom operations
• Private event venue
• Craft beverage retail
• Brewery merchandise

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Taproom Draft Sales: Direct sales of pints ($7-$8) and otherdraft beverages to walk-in customers at the taproom in Crosby, MN. Primary revenue driver for on-site consumption.
2. Packaged Beer Sales: Refillable growler fills ($19-$21), crowler jars ($9-$11 fill), and crowler cans ($10-$14). Revenue from takeaway packaged beer sales. Growler deposits of $6 for customer-owned containers.
3. Private Event Venue Rental: The Vault second-floor event space generates revenue through private bookings. Includes modest party setup fees, private room options (up to 50 guests), and full floor buyouts (120+ guests). Full bar service included with craft beer, cider, seltzers, and N/A options.
4. Merchandise Sales: Branded merchandise sold through Squareup online store.
5. On-Tap Distribution to Partners: Beer distributed on-tap to partner establishments including resorts, restaurants, and tasting rooms throughout the region.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cuyuna Brewing Company is a family-owned craft brewery that produces a lineup of craft beers, ciders, and seltzers at its brewery in the historic Young Building in Crosby, Minnesota. The company sells its beverages directly to consumers through an on-site taproom and packaged formats (refillable growlers, crowler jars, crowler cans), distributes on-tap to partner resorts and restaurants across the Cuyuna Lakes and Iron Range region, and operates The Vault, a second-floor private event space accommodating 50 to 120+ guests.

Product overview

Cuyuna Brewing Company is a family-owned craft brewery offering a portfolio of distinct beer and cider products. The core lineup includes seven flagship beers (Yawkey Ale, Crusher IPA, Ranger Strong, Silver Dollar Lager, Manhigh Stout, Hairforce One Belgian Blonde, and Red Rider Resort Radlermass) plus two ciders (Uncle Tim's and Apple Blossom). Seasonal and limited edition offerings rotate throughout the year, including NEIPA, Double IPA, smoked beer, barrel-aged quadrupel, Russian imperial stout, and Irish stout. The company operates a taproom at 1 East Main Street in Crosby, MN (historic Young Building), offers private event hosting through The Vault venue (second-floor space accommodating up to 120+ guests), and maintains an online merchandise store. Many beers are available in various formats including pints, refillable growlers, crowler jars, and crowler cans.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Vault: Second-floor private event space for celebrations and gatherings, accommodating up to 50 guests in private rooms or 120+ for full buyouts.

Products and services

• Yawkey Ale Flagship amber ale with smooth, malty flavor, low hop bitterness, and a hint of roast from the grain. ABV 6%, IBU 16. Named to honor local heritage.
• Crusher IPA Traditional IPA with a soft malt background, brewed with Centennial hops for bittering and Cascade and Citra for flavor and aroma. ABV 5.25%, IBU 69.
• Ranger Strong British pale ale (Extra Special Bitter) with Scottish base malt, English hops and yeast. $1 from each pint sold is donated to the at-risk student fund at the CI School District. ABV 5.6%, IBU 35.
• Silver Dollar Lager Festbier in the style of German Oktoberfest lagers, made with German Pilsner barley and German Hallertau hops. ABV 7%, IBU 28.
• Manhigh Stout Oatmeal milk stout with a hint of smoke, using seven different grains. Creamy and drinkable with complex flavors. ABV 5%, IBU 18.
• Hairforce One Belgian Blonde Moderate-strength golden ale with subtle fruity notes from Belgian yeast. Slightly sweet and malty with low hop bitterness. ABV 5.75%, IBU 20.
• Red Rider Resort Radlermass Beer cocktail made with Bavarian Hefeweizen base, enhanced with lemon, ginger, and sweetener for a refreshing low-alcohol beverage. ABV 3.1%.
• Hard Ciders Hard cider offerings including Uncle Tim's Cider (aged on oak with subtle vanilla and maple syrup undertones) and Apple Blossom Cider (fermented with mead using Riesling yeast, sweetened with honey and hibiscus tea).
• Seasonal & Limited Release Beers Rotating seasonal and limited edition beers released throughout the year, including New England IPAs, Double IPAs, smoked lagers (Rauchbier), bourbon barrel-aged quadrupels, Russian imperial stouts, and nitro Irish stouts.
• The Vault Private Event Space Second-floor private event space at the Crosby brewery offering a refined setting for celebrations and gatherings. Accommodates private room events up to 50 guests and full buyouts for 120+ guests, with full bar service including craft beer, cider, seltzers, and non-alcoholic options.
• Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise sold through the brewery's Squareup online store, offering apparel and accessories carrying the Cuyuna Brewing Co. brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• $1 from every pint of Ranger Strong sold donated to CI School District at-risk student fund

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RuttgerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-tap distribution partner where Cuyuna Brewing beer is served at their establishment. Located in the Cuyuna Lakes area.
• Iron Range EaterycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-tap distribution partner serving Cuyuna Brewing beer at their Iron Range restaurant location.
• UpNorth Social Tasting & Grazing RoomcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-tap distribution partner where Cuyuna Brewing beer is featured at their tasting and grazing establishment.
• Breezy Point Resort - The North StarcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn-tap distribution partner serving Cuyuna Brewing beer at their Minnesota resort under the 'North Star' brand.
• Grand View LodgecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMinnesota resort partner featuring Cuyuna Brewing beer on-tap at their establishment.
• Burritos CaliforniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent food vendor located inside Cuyuna Brewing's building offering authentic Mexican food including burritos, bowls, tacos, and quesadillas. Second location partnership providing convenient food options for taproom customers.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Castle Danger Brewery: Two Harbors, MN-based craft brewery with a destination taproom model on the North Shore. Closely comparable small-town Minnesota craft brewery combining on-site taproom service with regional distribution, mirroring Cuyuna Brewing's tourist-anchored GTM.
• Bemidji Brewing Company: Northern Minnesota craft brewery serving a small-town tourist and outdoor-recreation customer base with an on-site taproom. Comparable in scale, rural Minnesota footprint, and reliance on regional visitors.
• Lift Bridge Brewing Company: Stillwater, MN craft brewery with taproom and broad Minnesota distribution. Comparable Minnesota craft peer operating taproom plus packaged and on-tap wholesale, though at a larger distribution scale.
• Fitger's Brewhouse: Historic Duluth brewpub combining in-house brewing with full food service and on-site consumption. Comparable in operating a destination taproom tied to regional tourism in northern Minnesota.
• Ursa Minor Brewing: Small Minnesota craft brewery with a focus on a tight, story-driven product lineup and taproom experience. Comparable in scale, narrative branding, and community-anchored positioning.
• Blacklist Brewing Co. Duluth-area craft brewery with a taproom and regional distribution focus. Comparable in size and in combining on-premise taproom sales with wholesale accounts in northern Minnesota.

Broad incumbents

• Fulton Brewing: Minneapolis craft brewery with established taproom and broad distribution. A larger incumbent serving many of the same regional on-premise accounts that Cuyuna Brewing targets.
• Bent Paddle Brewing Co. Duluth-based craft brewery with a taproom and regional distribution. Larger Minnesota craft peer with overlapping northern Minnesota wholesale accounts and tourist-anchored taproom.
• Surly Brewing Co. One of the largest Minnesota craft brewers with a destination beer hall and statewide distribution. A broad incumbent whose scale and accounts overlap with Cuyuna Brewing's regional wholesale targets.
• Indeed Brewing Company: Minneapolis-based craft brewery with significantly broader distribution and taproom operations. A larger, more established Minnesota craft incumbent that competes for the same regional wholesale and tapline slots.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=fxXOf6Pfmnk
• Facebookfacebook.com/cuyunabrewing
• Xx.com/cuyunabrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cuyuna-brewing-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cuyuna Brewing