Small Business Spotlight: Modist Brewing Co.

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

The North Loop is home to Modist Brewing Co., one of the most innovative craft beer producers in the country. We talked to Daniel Paul Wellendorf, Co-Owner and Head of Marketing about the brewery’s start, creative approach to new products and the fun community events held in their space. Plan a visit to 505 N 3rd Street – or better yet subscribe to their calendar to avoid missing any of the fun or flavors. 

Daniel Paul WellendorfQ:  What is the history of Modist Brewing Co.?

A:  Modist was started by three friends from Delano, MN and myself. We opened in the North Loop neighborhood in April of 2016 aiming to push past traditional brewing to create unconventional beers through unconstrained experimentation. Utilizing the region’s only mash filter-powered brewing system, Modist has risen to become one of Minnesota’s most well-recognized and fastest-growing breweries. In our brief history, Modist has received a multitude of awards including the Best New Brewery in Minnesota by Growler Magazine, BeerAdvocate’s list of The 50 Best Breweries in the United States, Most Innovative Brewery by the MN Craft Brewers Guild, and one of the Brewbound Rising Stars of 2022.

Q:  I saw this in a ViaTravelers.com article: "Modist is an experimental brewery that emphasizes creativity. Modist starts to develop a recipe by identifying the flavor or experience they want to bring to life. The head brewmaster, Keigan, takes this concept and “works backward” to determine how best it can be achieved: he starts with the desired flavor and then works backward to brew something extra special." How often are experimental brews put in place? Have you ever had to nix a recipe that seemed too far out of the norm?

A:  We are constantly experimenting with beer and now THC beverages, but still enjoy making traditional beers as well. We release something new weekly!

And we’ve nixed plenty of ideas that were probably too far out there, but we always have more ideas than we have tanks to put them in - so if something doesn’t land while we’re bench testing it, there’s always an idea to back it up. Check our drinks list on our website for what we’re currently serving.

Cherry Vanilla THC Seltzer

Q:  You mention THC-infused beverages. Have your customers embraced this product line?

A:  Absolutely. We produce almost as much THC beverages as we do beer now, and it has been a game changer for us and Minnesota as a whole.

Q:  Your taproom has always held some wonderful events: Pilates and Puppies, Maker's Market, Pastries and Pints, etc. How do these events come about?

A:  Our Events Manager, Connie Mrotek, is always dreaming up something fun. We always want our events to be an echo of ourselves and our brand, and they’re always more about providing a fun experience than they are about making money. The vibes are always good. Check our calendar for upcoming events.

Modist event space

Q:  How do you stay up to date with the latest trends and developments in the craft beer industry? (Perhaps you are the trend maker?)

A:  We definitely have always taken pride in our ability to innovate, and we have a lot of like-minded industry friends to share ideas with. The craft beer industry is pretty collaborative, and we’re always bouncing ideas around.

Q:  Where may we purchase your products?

A:  We’re pretty saturated in the Twin Cities Metro between bars and restaurants and liquor stores. In greater MN we deliver to Rochester, Mankato, and Duluth. Outside of MN, we can be found in the major metropolitan areas of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, and New York.

Q:  How do we stay current with your news?

A:  Please do follow all our socials @modistbrewing, and subscribe to our newsletter at modistbrewing.com