Fulton Brewing Has Now Acquired An Award-Winning Minnesota Brewery

Minnesota has spent more than a decade building one of the country's most respected craft beer scenes, with over 200 breweries pouring everything from North Shore stouts to Twin Cities IPAs.

Nationally, craft brewing contributed nearly $72 billion to the U.S. economy last year, and the state's taprooms have long been a proud part of that story.

The past year, however, has been a hard one. Reports indicate five of Minnesota's six largest breweries saw production fall in 2025, with brewers pointing to tariffs, shifting drinking habits and crowded shelf space.

Now, a beloved Bemidji brewery is being sold, but that's not necessarily a bad sign, because there is good news in this story, and even a new vision designed to encourage growth and collaboration within the craft beer industry in Minnesota.

Bemidji Brewing Company Is Getting New Owners

Founded in 2012, Bemidji Brewing Company has become one of northern Minnesota's most respected craft breweries, known for award-winning beers and deep community roots.

However, effective October 31, 2026, the downtown brewery will be acquired by Minneapolis-based Fulton Brewing. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The good news for regulars: the downtown Bemidji taproom stays open, and the founders remain involved in the brand's evolution.

Co-founder and president Justin "Bud" Kaney said expanding the company's own facility "would require a level of investment that was difficult to justify in today's market," making the Fulton deal a smarter path to reach more of the state.

What Fulton Brewing Brings to the Table

Started by four homebrewers in a Southwest Minneapolis garage in 2009, Fulton Brewing grew into one of Minnesota's most recognizable names, behind beers like Sweet Child of Vine and Lonely Blonde.

A production partnership between the two breweries began roughly three years ago, using Fulton's spare capacity to help Bemidji Brewing expand distribution into Duluth, the North Shore and, eventually, the Twin Cities.

The New Collective: True North Beverage

An exciting twist in this acquisition is that it also launches True North Beverage, a new Minnesota-based collective built to give locally rooted brands shared production, sales, marketing, distribution and administrative muscle without the heavy capital costs of going it alone.

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Bemidji Brewing joins Fulton, FINNEGANS and N*RC Sparkling THC Waters in the True North portfolio. "This isn't about reinventing beloved brands," said Ryan Petz, CEO of Fulton and True North Beverage. "It's about pairing strong brands with the infrastructure they need to reach their potential."

In a tough stretch for craft beer across Minnesota, it's a bet that these homegrown names grow further together than they ever could apart, which is great news for them and for craft beer lovers throughout the state.