​Now in Moorhead: Bent Paddle beers

By Krissy Ness

If you weren’t able to make it to the Rare Beer Picnic last weekend there is still a chance to try Bent Paddle Brewing’s beer. Beginning in late July, Bent Paddle will be distributing beer in Moorhead. 99 Bottles and JL Beers in Moorhead will be hosting a special meet and greet with the owners of Bent Paddle and supplying their beer with a tap takeover!

I had the opportunity to speak with Karen Tonnis and Colin Mullen, two of the four owners, over the phone, and here is what they had to say about their company and their expansion into Moorhead.

HPR: How did Bent Paddle get its name and who founded it?

Karen: Bent Paddle Brewing Co., a 30-barrel production craft brewery and taproom in Duluth, is symbolically named after a shared passion for paddling and brewing between two married couples who founded the business in 2013: Bryon and Karen Tonnis and Colin and Laura Mullen.

HPR: I read that you are in your second year but ninth projected year. How are you coping?

Colin: We have a good team! When we started out Byron and I had experience, but also learned to make decisions quickly. By bringing in new equipment and expanding, we don’t go into a market unless we can support ourselves properly; we want to execute a responsible growth pattern.

HPR: Are all of your beers canned or do you leave some specialty beers for taproom/ bottle condition only?

Colin: We have a little something of each: both can and kegs for flagship, black ale (went to double black, bourbon barrels six months, 10.5 percent for holidays), whileCitra Bump and Botanical Blonde are some examples of firkins we do.

HPR: What is the best part about working at Bent Paddle?

Colin: I enjoy watching all of our teams work together. We have all worked in every area of the brewery and gotten to know every aspect of our facility. I really enjoy being an owner, getting the opportunity of hiring great people and giving them paychecks. I think that is so cool.

Karen: Prior to this I was working in food service, distribution and management for over 12 years. I feel like we are doing good things besides running a business. We partnered with a local manufacturer, LOLL Designs, who made our tap handles, which are 100 percent Minnesota-made. We enjoy giving back for positive impact. LOLL Designs recycled furniture out of milk handles like the tap handles. Five percent goes to the local cycling organization, Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores. Working with my husband is also a benefit of my job, and of course, so is working with our staff. The brewing industry is all about cooperation.

HPR: I also read that you use water from Lake Superior. Do you go through a filtering process?

Colin: It is actually theMunicipal Water of Duluth, which is run through a charcoal filter; this removes chlorine from water (chlorine affects the hops). From there you start with neutral base, then you can add salts and minerals to replicate different water sources from all over the world!

HPR: What is your best-selling beer?

Colin: The Bent Hop is our best-selling flagship beer.

HPR: What are the hops you are working with right now?

Colin: El Dorado and Centennial are the hops I like working with right now. The combo is one of my favorites.

HPR: What is your favorite beer that you make?

Colin: It varies with weather and food; we do have a beer for every situation. It is fun to be able to go back and forth on a regular basis, but I have been spending more time with the Bent Hop.

Karen: I have beenquoted saying this before: It is kind of like asking who my favorite kid is! (Laughs) My favorite beer has a lot to do with what the weather is like, what I am eating, or what activity I am participating in, but I drink the Venture PILS pilsener most frequently. And the Bent Hop Golden IPA was brewed for Byron and it’s his favorite beer.

HPR: Do you can the Cold Press Black Ale?

Colin: Yes! It is a semi-flagship beer, but we will be making it year-round from now on.

HPR: Is there anything you would like to add?

Colin: Much gratitude to the accounts for being patient, and we are excited to support the market like we want to.

Karen: We are getting a lot of requests by phone call, social media and email. We are growing so quickly, but we have to be smart about growth and produce quality and consistent beers. Moorhead will be the farthest from home, so it is exciting.

It is an exciting adventure for Bent Paddle to be distributing to Moorhead, and it is great for the Fargo-Moorhead area to be exposed to such beer! Come out to either 99 Bottles or JL Beers (Moorhead), support local brewing and say hi to the owners. I know I will be one of the first in line!

IF YOU GO

99 Bottles

924 Main Ave, Moorhead

Thursday, July 30, 4-6 p.m.

218-284-0099

JL Beers

2902 US-10, Moorhead

Thursday, July 30, 6-9 p.m.

218-422-4400