Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

Name

Bent Paddle Brewing Co.

Legal name

Bent Paddle Brewing Company

Website

https://bentpaddlebrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA), Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Brewery taproom operations
• Craft beer distribution
• Thc infused beverages
• Private brewery events

Headquarters

HQ city

Duluth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Taproom Beer Sales: On-site beer sales, N/A options, THC/canna beverages by the glass. Operating Monday-Sunday with extended hours Friday/Saturday until 11pm.
2. To-Go Beer (Growlers & Crowlers): 64oz growlers and 25.4oz aluminum crowlers filled to-go. Standard glass growler refills at $5, beer fills from $12. Specialty branded growlers also available.
3. Distribution to Retail & On-Premise: Packaged beer (12 & 16 oz cans) and varied keg sizes sold to bars, liquor stores, restaurants, and event facilities throughout Minnesota and beyond.
4. Canna/THC Beverages: Delta-9 THC hemp-derived beverages and gummies sold on-site and to-go through separate canna website/store.
5. Merchandise & Gear: Online and in-taproom sales of apparel, hats, drinkware, accessories, bike jerseys, stickers, candles, and branded growlers.
6. Private Event Rentals: Rental of Enger & Olson Room (up to 60 people), full taproom + The Yard (140 seated/200 standing), and production brewery for private events. Pricing varies by season and day.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bent Paddle Brewing Co. is a craft brewery that brews, packages, and distributes a diverse portfolio of year-round, seasonal, and pilot beers from a 30-barrel production brewery and a 7-barrel pilot brewery in Duluth, Minnesota. It sells beer on-site at a family-friendly taproom (by glass, 64oz growler, 25.4oz crowler), distributes canned and kegged beer to retail and on-premise accounts across four states, and operates adjacent lines including THC/CBD beverages under the Bent Paddle Canna sub-brand, branded merchandise, and private event rentals.

Product overview

Bent Paddle Brewing Co. is a craft brewery offering a diverse portfolio of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, centered on its core beer lineup of year-round and seasonal craft beers. The company operates as a unified product-and-experience offering: it produces and sells its beer through multiple channels (taproom, retail distribution in MN/WI/MI/ND, and online merchandise store), while also providing experiential offerings (taproom hospitality, private event rentals, growler/crowler fills). The product portfolio spans: (1) Core Year-Round Beers including flagship Bent Hop Golden IPA, Venture Pils, 14° Degree Amber Ale, Black Ale, Cold-Press Black, Light Lager, Lime Light Lager, and Grapefruit Light; (2) Specialty/Seasonal Beers including Cosmic Lounge Hazy IPA, Retro Haze, Kanu Session Pale Ale, Snowmaker Pale Ale, Harness Rye IPA, Gandering Goose Gose, and Munchin' Pretzels; (3) Pilot Brewery Exclusives available only at the taproom; (4) Non-Alcoholic Options including N/A mocktails, Hop Stream, and kombucha; (5) THC/CBD Beverages under the Puff (sparkling waters), Hightened (mocktails), and MUSE sub-brands sold via the separate Bent Paddle Canna store; (6) Taproom Experiences including on-site hospitality, growler fills, and retail merchandise; (7) Private Event Rental Services. The brewery also operates a separate merchandise/gear e-commerce store and distributes its canned and bottled beer throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Western Upper Peninsula Michigan, and North Dakota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bent Paddle Canna: THC and CBD hemp-derived cannabis beverages and gummies sold under the Bent Paddle brand.

Products and services

• Bent Hop Golden IPA Flagship year-round IPA (6.2% ABV) featuring grapefruit, citrus, and pine hop character; Bent Paddle's best-selling beer and award-winning core product for craft beer consumers.
• Venture Pils Quintessential craft lager (5.0% ABV) brewed with Lake Superior water and Weyermann Pilsener Malt; year-round offering for craft lager drinkers.
• 14° Degree Amber Ale Complex malt-driven Extra Special Amber Ale (5.6% ABV) and Bent Paddle's most award-winning beer; year-round offering for craft beer enthusiasts.
• Black Ale Smooth chocolatey semi-roasted ale bridging porter and stout styles; year-round craft beer with oats for rounded flavor, also served via Nitro tap.
• Cold-Press Black Coffee-infused variant of Black Ale made with locally roasted single-source Colombian beans from Duluth Coffee Company; year-round craft beer for coffee-beer fans.
• Light Lager Crisp light lager at 115 calories and 5g carbs per 12oz serving; year-round low-calorie craft beer option.
• Lime Light Lager Light lager with natural lime flavoring and lime zest oil; low-calorie craft option targeted at warm-weather and health-conscious consumers.
• Grapefruit Light Lager Light lager with natural grapefruit citrus flavoring; low-calorie (115 calories, 5g carbs) craft beer option with burst of citrus.
• Cosmic Lounge Hazy IPA Hazy IPA featuring Strata, Citra, and Sultana hops with London Ale III yeast; delivers dank passionfruit and citrus character for hop-forward craft beer drinkers.
• Kanu Session Pale Ale Session pale ale (4.8% ABV, 48 IBU) paying homage to aluminum canoes; designed for outdoor adventures and camping.
• Retro Haze Hazy pale ale with nostalgic twist featuring Strata, El Dorado, and Krush Lupo hops; winter seasonal release for craft beer enthusiasts.
• Snowmaker Pale Ale Robust pale ale celebrating après-ski culture (5.5% ABV, 40 IBU); winter seasonal with Centennial and Simcoe hop bitterness over a malt backbone.
• Harness Rye IPA Rye IPA (7.2% ABV, 87 IBU) with oats, rye, and malted barley supporting a heavy hop load; for hop-forward craft beer enthusiasts.
• Gandering Goose Gose German-style sour ale (Gose) with coriander, sea salt, and key lime; 4.4% ABV specialty release described as a 'Gatorade Beer' for tart, refreshing drinking.
• Munchin' Pretzels Classic Märzenbier (6.0% ABV) with rich amber color; brewed with traditional German malts and hops for toasted bread, caramel, and spicy hop notes.
• Pilot Brewery Beers (Taproom Only) Experimental small-batch beers brewed on the 7-barrel DME pilot system; taproom-only exclusives designed for recipe R&D and ingredient trials; can be scaled to 30-barrel production.
• Puff THC Sparkling Waters THC-infused sparkling water beverages (10mg THC per can) including Prickly Pear Lemonade, Tropical Mango, Dragon Fruit Cloudberry, and Dragon Fruit Pineapple; zero carbs and zero calories.
• Hightened THC Mocktails THC-infused mocktails inspired by classic cocktails including Palomarita and Mary Jane's Mule; sold under Bent Paddle Canna.
• MUSE CBD/THC Beverage CBD/THC fusion beverage (2mg Delta-9 THC and 25mg CBD per 12oz can) with passion fruit, orange, and guava; zero calories and zero carbs; sold via Bent Paddle Canna.
• Callisto Hard Seltzer Hard seltzer line served at the taproom.
• Taproom Experience (On-Site Hospitality) On-site taproom hospitality offering glass pours of beer, N/A options, and THC beverages; includes indoor/outdoor seating, heated pet-friendly patio, The Yard outdoor space, food trucks, live music, and games.
• Growler and Crowler Fills (To-Go) To-go fresh beer in 64oz glass growlers and 25.4oz aluminum crowlers; tiered pricing for year-round vs. specialty vs. high ABV beers, with a Buy 3 get $5 off volume discount.
• Merchandise Store (Gear Shop) Online and in-taproom retail shop selling branded merchandise including apparel, hats, drinkware, accessories, bike jerseys, stickers, candles, growlers, and gift cards.
• Private Event Rentals Private event rental service offering the Enger & Olson Room (up to 60 guests), the full Taproom + The Yard (140 seated / 200 standing), and the Production Brewery for weddings, corporate events, rehearsal dinners, fundraisers, and reunions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65+ awards for business, taproom, and beers
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Duluth Coffee CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Duluth coffee roaster supplying single-source Colombian beans. Bent Paddle uses their beans for house-made cold press coffee, infused into Cold Press Black Ale at rate of 1 gallon per barrel. Partnership enables unique coffee beer innovation using locally-sourced ingredients.
• Atlas GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainability partnership transforming brewery waste into play. Atlas Games' Replay Workshop creates products from materials that would otherwise be discarded. Partnership exemplifies Bent Paddle's commitment to environmental responsibility and circular economy.
• Minnesota Craft Brewers GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding members Bryon and Colin Mullen have served on Guild board since 2005. Co-founders chaired festival and marketing committees. Guild organizes flagship beer festivals: Autumn Brew Review, Winterfest, and All Pints North Summer Brew Fest.
• TNT HiFi Sound SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWeekly Wednesday Paddle Splash Reggae Party and regular vinyl DJ sessions. Partnership curates live music atmosphere in taproom and The Yard with rotating DJs including Al Pajamas, Natty Nico, DJ ANIBODY, Saint John, DJ Fraudulent, DJ StaggaLee, Steeze in the Breeze, Bog Boy, and Moeview.
• 1,200+ Nonprofits SupportedcoreOthersPaddle It Forward program has donated over $650,000 value to 1,200+ nonprofits since 2013. Focus areas: wilderness conservation, human-powered activities, outdoor recreation, education, humanitarian causes, gender/racial/social justice, economic stability, armed forces/veteran services, local arts/music. Includes organizations like Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters, Twin Ports Artists Collective, Men As Peacemakers, Trans+ Northland, and WE Health.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fulton Brewing Company: Minneapolis craft brewery with regional distribution and taproom. Similar mid-sized craft profile to Bent Paddle and direct competitor for Minnesota shelf space and tap handles.
• Modist Brewing Co. Minneapolis craft brewery with taproom and experimental portfolio. Comparable to Bent Paddle on innovation-driven positioning, hazy/IPA emphasis, and direct competition for Upper Midwest craft consumers.
• Surly Brewing Co. Minneapolis-based craft brewery with a destination taproom and regional distribution across the Upper Midwest. Closely comparable to Bent Paddle in size, model (production brewery + taproom), and Minnesota craft beer positioning.
• Lift Bridge Brewing Company: Stillwater, MN craft brewery producing year-round and seasonal beers with taproom presence and Twin Cities-area distribution. Comparable to Bent Paddle in size, portfolio breadth, and Minnesota craft positioning.
• Castle Danger Brewery: Two Harbors, MN craft brewery on the North Shore with taproom and regional distribution. Highly comparable geographic and brand-positioning match for Bent Paddle, including outdoor/lifestyle marketing and tourism-driven taproom traffic.
• Indeed Brewing Company: Minneapolis craft brewery with a hospitality-forward taproom and regional distribution. Comparable to Bent Paddle on production scale, year-round + seasonal portfolio mix, and strong community/event-driven identity.
• August Schell Brewing Company: New Ulm, MN legacy brewery (one of the oldest in the U.S.) with regional distribution. Comparable to Bent Paddle on Minnesota legacy positioning, year-round portfolio, and wholesale distribution model.

Emerging players

• Hop & Barrel Brewing Co. Wisconsin craft brewery with regional distribution and event-driven taproom operations. Comparable to Bent Paddle on Upper Midwest geography, scale, and emerging regional craft positioning.

Broad incumbents

• New Belgium Brewing Company: Large U.S. craft brewery known for sustainability leadership and broad national distribution. Comparable to Bent Paddle on environmental positioning and B-Corp-style values, but operates at materially larger scale and footprint.
• Bell's Brewery: Established Midwest craft brewery with broad distribution and strong legacy identity. Comparable to Bent Paddle as a regional craft incumbent with award-winning flagship beers and taproom experience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bentpaddlebeer
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaqqBIdf3_wYfL36Vm1nrpQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/bentpaddlebrewing
• Instagraminstagram.com/bentpaddlebeer
• TikToktiktok.com/@bentpaddlebeer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bent-paddle-brewing-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Bent Paddle Brewing Co.