I had heard great things about Bent Paddle Brewing's taproom - and it did not disappoint. A huge stage with music set up outside and the inside was extremely expansive. Bent Paddle Brewing Company is a family-owned and operated craft brewery and taproom in Duluth, Minnesota. The brewery opened in May 2013 and uses Lake Superior water to brew it's beers and hemp beverages. Bent Paddle's mission is to create a unique craft beer experience while also being sustainable for the business, employees, environment, and community. And they deliver on it all. I got a flight to enjoy some of their more limited offerings. Munchin Pretzels: An Oktoberfest beer brewed with traditional German Malts and Hops. I get toasted bread malt character with a bit of sweetness, but rounded out by a hop bitterness. The malt profile is definitely the forefront and I wished I had a pretzel to go with it. Infinity Stuf: An Oatmeal Stout that they went all out with 100 pounds of Oreos. Nutty oatiness, chocolate, and medium fullness. I appreciate it not being a Pastry Stout, but still get lots of Oreo character. A Beer of Their Own: A Hoppy Pale Ale brewed in collaboration with a Bar Of Their Own in the Twin Cities. Tropical fruit forward - primarily melon and cantaloupe, with a nice finish. Stratarado: A Hoppy Pale Ale brewed with Strata and El Dorado (get the name?). Tropical fruit, pineapple, some sweetness on the tongue. Liked this one a lot. ______ read more

Bent Paddle Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

We took a hike before we got here and it was a pretty warm day. There were very nice shaded tables. We could get water for the dogs. One person working here also brought them dog biscuits. We tried beer that appealed to us and we weren't disappointed. There were two food trucks serving different types of food. The merchandise was well stocked and had some unique things. read more

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I have visited BP multiple times over the past year, and they host a variety of events, offer a dog and kid friendly yard, and also provide different seating options to match your vibe. Fantastic! Why leave a low rating? A friend recommended I share my disappointment in how a recent, negative customer service experience was handled. I called and sent an email to BP describing both the experience and my concern for a slippery slope toward a discrimination claim, directly asking: "Is your business's policy to treat customers this way when one individual has a personal issue outside the workplace?" The response was short, lacked a basic apology, and failed to demonstrate engagement with the issue. Frankly, if leadership cannot directly answer if it is kosher for staff to treat paying customers differently when one employee on the team maintains unsubstantiated claims, that is a full answer. I recommend BP continue taking this "very seriously" by providing an actionable solution rooted in care and community and also an apology recognizing unprofessionalism. I am a Duluth-based manager of a major economic driver for Northeastern MN and also a former business owner and consultant. If a customer raised unprofessional behavior to me, I would have done 3 things: connected to better understand (conflict resolution 101), asked what the customer ideally wants even if the business could not provide it (I asked for "equal service and respect"), and promised to follow up that the issue has been addressed (progress over perfection, limited details necessary). The lack of transparency and accountability on addressing unprofessionalism in their workplace toward a paying customer is a direct reflection of BP operations. I welcome continued engagement and look forward to what the future holds! read more

Checked out Bent Paddle while in Duluth. I'm not from the area, but I was already well acquainted with their tasty malt beverages before I visited. They have all kinds of beer. I like a crisp, refreshing, clean tasting pilsner, and theirs has been perfected. The place has a nice atmosphere to sit down indoors or outdoors and just hang out, whether it's a date or just with friends. I will be back when in Duluth again! read more

This is hands down my favorite brewery in Minnesota, I wasn't a beer person before coming here a few years ago. Bent Paddle's Coffee Bender opened up beer for me, so this place will always have a special place in my heart. We go up to Duluth a few times a year and this is always a must stop for us. The vibes are good, the beer is good, they have so much seating, and events happening almost every weekend. read more

This brewery was awesome! The ambiance inside was amazing. There was a cozy fireplace area as well as couch seating/ high top table seating throughout. The merch was really cool- I got a T shirt. The ceiling in the hallway to the bathroom was one of a kind- a twinkling star constellation! The bathroom was even super cute. I think this is in my top three aesthetically, favorite breweries. Everything else was great too. Service, beer, you name it. Pretzel snacks for purchase- we got the spicy pretzels. Yum! read more

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This review is about Bent Paddles' customer service. A couple of weeks ago, my wife ordered some beverages through the mail from Bent Paddle. Unfortunately that's the only way we can do business with them since we're out of State. One can in the 4-pack of beverages, while still sealed, had no CO2 in It. My wife contacted B.P. and asked them if they could replace the defective can. They replied the same day and said they would replace the 4-pack, not just the individual can. A couple of days later, the 4-pack arrived - along with a sizeable discount coupon for a future purchase. That was a nice surprise and very much appreciated. Needless to say we've already used the discount coupon. Customer service that is customer-centric is what keeps customers coming back. Bent Paddle seems to have mastered that phenomenon. read more

What a fun place! The staff were super sweet and definitely knowledgeable about their ales. Great live music. A place worth trying. read more

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We usually hit this brewery when we are in Duluth, I would say, it's one of the better breweries in the area. Solid beers, something for everyone. Nice, expansive outdoor seating, including heated deck seating. But beware, it is extremely busy on the weekends. We stood for about 20 minutes last weekend before we grabbed a seat someone was vacating. There was a loud band playing on the soundstage. It was packed full of families with kids. And the back was reserved for something. But all the beers were great, we particularly loved the imperial Stout. And I love that they have flights so I can try everything I haven't tried before. read more

Meh. IPA is good not exceptional. Plastic cups for the patio, hate drinking a nice beer out of plastic. Does seem to be a good place for live music. In fairness my first time here. But I've travelled since January 2023 and been to no less than 150 craft breweries. My criteria, the beer has to be more than just drinkable, beer-centric not focused on food and if it's in a semi-industrial/commercial low overhead setting, all the better. Trendy... not interested. Dog friendly in and out and good energy from the staff and patrons they both work together. Just don't feel it here. read more

Great beer and atmosphere. Grabbed a jacket for $60?!?! Love it! I like the selection of beers.

This is the swankiest brewery I have ever been to. This new taproom was only opened 13 months ago but it is worth checking out. There is a nice couch area with warm fireplace. Then there is a fun elegant dining section with cool family seating, great for bringing or ordering dinner to have with your beer. There are lots of space to chill in this brewery and plenty of parking in this cute part of town. We can't get enough of their Nitro coffee stout. One of the best in MN for sure. There are several good restaurants nearby and walking distance. One of our favorite is definitely the bbq joint OMC Smokehouse. They should name their restaurant OMG! Check out my review for this restaurant. Back to the brewery, there is also fun ice hockey machine that you can play for free! We had so much fun there. Even the bathroom was beautifully decorated with really fun northwoods wallpaper. read more

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Doesn't hurt I know the owners, but great beer choices, cans bottles and on tap many places. Hinckley casino on tap. Bent Paddle is their beer of choice. read more

Having been on approximately 100 brewery, distillery and winery tours, I feel like saying this means something: this is the second best tour I've ever been on. I was pleased as punch that the tour guide had answers to even the most inane questions, and the sample pours spread throughout the tour made for a totally pleasant experience. I enjoyed more beers here than I have at most breweries, and their sensory sampling experience made me take a minute to appreciate what goes into each and every beer. Tour: awesome. Beers: fantastic. New taproom full out packed with patio and kid friendly activities: perfection. read more

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They expanded to a much larger building just a block or two from their previous location. Very beautiful and welcoming inside. Loved the red chairs! Much more space to hang out than before. Typical brewery set up: bring in whatever you choose to snack on, chairs and tables, booths and couches. Grab a board game and stay awhile, pet a dog and make a new friend. As long as there is a fruity sour on tap (there was when I was there) I will be pleased. Located a few miles from Canal Park in a semi sketchy run down part of Duluth you will find a medium sized lot to park and very cute wallpaper in the restroom. Check them out the next time you find yourself in Duluth! read more

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Tour was good! Taproom was fun. Loved the ambiance/vibe of the taproom. Friendly staff. Good beers. Would visit again!

First stop on our Duluth craft brewery tour and possibly my favorite that we tried in Duluth. Bent Paddle is a small taproom hidden on the side streets of Duluth. You can walk right into the production area to get a first hand view of their work. We ordered the sampler which was the best decision of the day. Bent Paddle makes some world class beers and the sampler is the best way to try them all! I liked the KanU and Venture the best. The staff was so friendly and very knowledgable with their own beer menu and some of the other craft breweries in the area. They gave us tons of brewery recommendations to visit in both Duluth and Minneapolis. read more

Bent Paddle Brewing - The Sampler flight. The 4 flagships and 2 seasonal, best way to try them all! - Breweries Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Interesting and fun brewery tour ($5 per person, 11 am on Saturday/Sunday) - includes samples (yum). Cool vibe. I'm not a beer drinker by trade but I now have an appreciation for beer and how it's brewed, and I actually liked the Tea Time Beer (with citrus and green tea). You can order food from OMC smokehouse and they deliver (awesome meat - I will review OMC separately). read more

Bent Paddle Brewing - Beer cans waiting for their moment of glory... - Breweries Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

What a fun experience. They are right off the highway, and true to form reside in a renovated industrial building. Flights are cheaper here at $13 and they have 1-2 rotating beers on nitro. The space is smaller than expected with about 8-10 tables. They give brewery tours and I'm really bummed I wasn't able to do one. My favorites were the Amber ale, 45 degree ale and the coffee black ale on nitro. All of them were delicious but everyone has to have a favorite. It's a great spot and they have a listing of all the places they sell their beer in the area. I definitely plan to go back when I'm in Duluth. read more

Bent Paddle Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Bent Paddle might be a bit out of the way -- the kind of place where you look around and wonder for a second if you're in the right neighborhood. But it's totally worth the trip. I was incredibly delighted and surprised with our first (and certainly not last) visit here. The IPA was all you want in an IPA -- hoppy, flavorful. The Black Ale was my favorite, and totally ridiculously good. There are two versions, a "regular" for lack of better word, and then they had a cold press Black Ale. I don't know what they do to this beer, but holy cow. Perfect combo of a Porter and a Coffee Stout and SO full of flavor. If we had more time I would have completely kicked back with a few. As it was, I had one, and I'm still thinking about it. I am kicking myself for not buying some cans to take home while we were there. Prices are super reasonable at $3, $4 and $5 for 10 oz, 16 oz and 20 oz respectively. Decor-wise, I totally dug the wood tables, which were beautiful and definitely a step up from tables you find in most brewpubs. The staff was friendly, and the place was a lot of fun. Kudos! read more

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Great beer & fun place. Lots of seating and variety of choices for food / beer / snacks. It was pretty busy when we got there but we were able to find a seat quick. Fast & friendly bartenders as well. Would recommend! read more

Bent Paddle Brewing - Beer - Breweries Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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The new location is beautiful; it has a vibrant, fun energy along with well educated and positive staff and large variety of delicious beers! Theresa reason its my go to spot! Thank you! read more

Bent Paddle, you beautiful son of a gun. Who even says that besides your grandpa anyway?? Okay, so a few months ago my new neighbors gave me a 6-pack of Bent Paddle's IPA. Yeah, I know what you're thinking.....I have the coolest neighbors. That wouldn't be a lie...they are pretty great. But back to that IPA....shit was good. Really good. So, when I booked my first trip to Duluth I knew I had to check out Bent Paddle. Checking it out made me fall in love with it even more. Like we might even be talking, new favorite brewery in my book and that is big news! So yes, the IPA is great so since I already knew that I decided to try something new. I tried the Tea Time tea infused beer....oh.m.g. it was delightful (and yes I said that with a British accent....it is tea time afterall). It was light and tasted like green tea I could have had 5 more I am sure. I tried some of my brewery partners 140 degrees and it was like sweet nectar in my mouth. The atmosphere made me happy. I don't like those breweries that are too done up, too big, etc. I just like to feel like I am in sippin beer in a cool looking garage and that is exactly what you get at Bent Paddle. The bar is cool with a cool metal sign behind it, wood tables, and over to the side is another room (where they actually brew the beer) with picnic table style seating. It all put me in my happy place. Also their merch is really cute and extremely reasonably priced compared to other brewing merch I've come across. Anyway, thanks for making my day Bent Paddle. read more

My wife and I were in Duluth this weekend for a get-a-way. I absolutely love Bent Paddle's Cold Press Black so a brewery tour was a must. We chose the 11am Sunday tour so we could do it before heading home. The tour was fantastic! Our host, Al, was gracious, entertaining, knowledgeable and answered all of our group questions with ease. He did a great job of explaining the Bent Paddle history and the company's commitment to the local community. Our tour received six 4oz samples, light to dark, plus we got to keep the glass. It lasted about 1.5 hours so for $5 it is a GREAT experience. I have never had a Bent Paddle beer I didn't like. Top notch beer made by top notch people. Check them out. On a side note... my wife is not a big beer fan but they did offer her some tap root beer they have (it was great too, forgot who made it but it is local). We didn't have our kids with us but it is a kid-friendly taproom as well. read more

Not sure why this place is so popular, but apparently people love this brewery. First of all, there was a line to order a beer, which is a good thing, I guess, but took foreeeeever. One of the servers in particular was extremely slow. When I finally got up to order, I wanted to choose my beers for my flight, but the guy said the flight includes specific beers and I couldn't choose which ones I wanted. I did want to at least sample a couple of the beers that I was going to get in my flight, so I tried a few. The only one I seemed to like was the Tea Time Paddle break Blonde. Other than that, these beers are too hoppy for me. I guess if you like IPA's and more hoppy beers, this is the brewery for you, but I wasn't a fan. read more

We had to check this place off of the list while in town. The nice thing about bigger breweries with larger distribution channels is there is a very good chance you go into the taproom knowing something about their beers. That is the case here. We have had most of their options, and all are very good. The night we went, they had a local guy doing bingo in the taproom. That was a fun addition to the environment. Also making it fun was the thunderstorm that rolled through rather suddenly. The large metal warehouse certainly put on an audio show (it was kinda loud) read more

The Highlights: In short, this brewery is doing everything right. From their clean, modern wood-and-metal taproom to the brand new equipment in a brewery with room for expansion, the folks at Bent Paddle have set themselves up for large-scale success. Not to mention, they are awesome people who seem to to have level-heads that won't let their sure-to-be-success go to their heads. This is a definite must-stop on your next trip to Duluth. The Rundown: I have stopped by twice as part of GetKnit Event's North Shore Brewery Tour. Each time, the staff at Bent Paddle has been well-prepared with a welcoming atmosphere, an informative tour, and plenty of brews to go around. As some other reviews have mentioned, the brewery is in an industrial neighborhood and lacks a great view or outdoor seating. While that could add to the experience, I happen to like the "Industrial" feel in a brewery. It makes me feel like they keep their focus where it should be: on their beer. That being said, Bent Paddle has done a great job at playing on the industrial feel by using very "raw" materials in the decoration of the taproom and the brewery is far from having a cold or unwelcoming feeling. On our tours, we had the opportunity to try out their Calibration IPA and Calibration Dark Beers. Essentially, these were the early versions of their flagship "Bent Hop Golden IPA" and "Black Ale." Both beers were delicious and played well to entry-level drinkers of each style. The IPA was not too hoppy as to induce bitter-beerfaces but was hoppy enough to keep a hop-head like myself happy. The Dark was full of taste and body, but was not too thick or heavy. On our tours, the brewers allowed us to taste beer straight from the fermentation tanks which was a great way to learn about how beer progresses throughout the brewing process. A very cool experience, indeed. I have had the opportunity to taste both "Bent Hop Golden IPA" and "Black Ale" since these original tours and they both play very well straight from the can or poured into a nice frosty mug. Which brings me to my last point: Bent Paddle truly owns their heritage and locale. Packaging their beer in cans makes it perfect for taking into parks, bringing on a picnic, etc. Their stainless steel growlers serve the same purpose. Stop by a liquor store on your way to your next BBQ or swing by the brewery on your way to the Boundary Waters - you can't lose. Their allegiance to the North Shore is prevalent throughout their business plan, but can be summed up best with this quote on the back of their T-Shirt: "10% of the World's freshest water is found in Lake Superior - 100% of our beer is made with that water." Great Beer, Great Atmosphere, Great People = Great Brewery. read more

How did we pick the Bent Paddle out of all the breweries in greater Duluth? We went with the brewery with the best name and reviews, of course! And Bent Paddle did not disappoint. The brewery is located in a warehouse in an industrial area of town. My partner and i went at 5:00 on a Saturday and it was packed. We found a table and ordered a flight of 6 that actual had markers for each beer. Their beers were so good! We especially liked the tea time, 140, and venture pilsner. We played a game of fluxx and enjoyed our beers, and many other tables were playing games too. Such a good vibe place! Will be back for sure. read more

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My sister recently got married and we asked Bent Paddle to host a tour for family and friends who were still in town the day after the wedding. Laura handled the arrangements for the brewery. She was very communicative and organized, so planning the event was very easy - we agreed upon a very reasonable rate to rent the space for the evening. Even though our event was supposed to start at 8:00 pm, my family members started showing up early. Laura and Colin were terrific handling this - they were ready to serve brews and answer questions. We arranged for some light refreshments to cater the event, which was a terrific pairing with the brews. My family enjoyed trying several of the brews and the group was pretty split on which one they enjoyed the most. Additionally, we had a number of non-drinkers in the group and the brewery had great root beer on tap for them. The tour was definitely the highlight. Colin and Laura are very knowledgeable about the craft of brewing. They were also very good at explaining their business model. My family asked a ton of questions, all of which were handled with ease. In short, I woudn't hesitate to hold another event at Bent Paddle - it was a wonderful evening. read more

I don't usually give anything five stars, but come on, it is beer we are talking about. The beers are very tasty. I love the idea of the choice of having your beer nitro infused. It gives a smooth feel and taste. The facility is beautiful. The atmosphere is cool and hip. The location is in industrial area, and unfortunately people in Duluth look at Lincoln Park as a sort of arm pit of Duluth. However, I like where it is located and couldn't think of a cooler place to have it. Good job Bent Paddle.....I will return soon with friends and would love to go on a tour. read more

My boyfriend and I took a few days to get away in Duluth, and made sure a brewery tour at Bent Paddle was a priority on the list. Although located in a more rugged 'warehouse' district of Duluth, it was easy to spot from the interstate, and parking was a breeze. It's advertised to arrive at 11:45AM for 12PM tours on Sunday, but they did not unlock the doors until after 12PM so guests are to wait outside on the curb. Fortunately it was a hot summer day, and there were 30 of us waiting it out together. A $1 donation or canned food donation will get you in the tour after signing up online. That tour includes (3) 10oz pours throughout the tour, which is amazing! You can choose your favorite beers or try something new. The tour guide even encourages attendees to head back to the taproom if at any point they find their cup empty - very cool! Overall our guide was knowledgeable, yet entertaining, and spent the right amount of time discussing the science and technology, as well as the history and background of the company. Overall, very impressed, and made us fall in love with the brand even more than we already were! Great start to the weekend away. read more

I love the craft beer explosion in Duluth! This brewery and tap room is top notch with ultra-friendly brew masters and a great atmosphere. The beer is well priced and there are beer options for most beer drinkers. Their growler refill prices are the lowest in Duluth, and that is great because I feel that they have some of the best beers in town! When I was there a food truck was outside to complement the atmosphere and the fact that this is a tap room and not a restaurant. The beers are smooth and hoppy as well as balanced and full of taste! PROS --friendly --soulful --decently priced --fast service --good tasting beers --Nitro tap options for beers --Growler options in glass and stainless steel CONS --LESS than awesome neighborhood. (Lincoln Park) But this may change as a positive business such as Bent Paddle takes hold. It felt good to be in that neighborhood in such an upstanding business! These are the hours as of the posing date of this review. Taproom Hours Mon. CLOSED Tues. CLOSED Wed. 3 - 10 pm Thurs. 3 - 10 pm Fri. 3 - 11 pm Sat. 1 - 11 pm Sun. CLOSED read more

Consistent excellent quality. They walk their talk re: environmental issues regarding fresh water quality/ Lake Superior. Doing good work regarding community development in Lincoln Park. Tap room fun.... Thursday nite food trucks, Wednesday nite live music. Always full of kindred souls(beer lovers). Love it! read more

Favorite stop on Our way home from Cook County. Brought the dogs water. Great beer selection, and great food selection from nearby eateries.

Beer was really delicious. I did enjoy the flights and was pleased. The only issue is the space is really small. read more

Bent Paddle Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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What an awesome addition to Duluth! Good beer, minimal choices - I think they have 3 or 4. Nice, knowledgeable, happy staff. They are good about giving you samples to try so you can make sure you make the best choice. The space is wonderful, clean, intimate, trendy. They don't serve food but you can bring in your own and wash it down with a great local beer. I would recommend to ANY beer lover :) read more

I have avoided going here because I have no interest in beer. Our kids asked us to meet on the deck with our dogs for dinner. We enjoyed our time on the deck. Several staff people came out to admire the dogs. They were all very upbeat. We ordered from menus from a couple of nearby restaurants. The food seemed to come as quickly as if it came from on site. All was tasty and hot. I was surprised by what a great experience it was for all. Sorry that we didn't go inside. When it gets cold, and we leave the pups home. read more

If you're from Minnesota and you haven't heard of Bent Paddle, you're actually from Wisconsin. Just kidding. But if you're into the brewery scene and haven't heard of Bent Paddle, you're seriously missing out. Their beers are varied, from a lager, to a nitro coffee stout and many many between. For less than a Hamilton, you can try 6 beers - 4 flagship beers (Venture Pils, Bent Hop, 14° ESB and Black Ale),alongside 2 from the rotating taps. Please read this as 24 oz of 6 pours of beer for $9. WIN. They sell a limited selection of gourmet popcorn, but no other snacks, so plan accordingly. They also have a selection of games, so plan to bring a small group of friends and stick around for a few! read more

I'm not normally a fan of beer, but they have the best Belgian style pale ale I've ever tasted. Staff was super friendly. The atmosphere was great as well. Will definitely be back for a visit on our next trip to MN. read more

Bent Paddle Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

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Just wow! Amazing taproom with some games great seating areas, plus outdoor seating. BEERS! LOVE THEM. Bent Paddle is a standard for beer in Duluth for residents and visitors. read more