Beer and Breweries
Flutes & Low with Lu Starr and Wetland Willows
Flutes & Low is the folk duo project of Ben Pichler and Cambria Haen. Since meeting and playing music together in Duluth, they have put their musical talents together to create lush sounds and memorable melodies. They are joined by Lu Starr and Wetland Willows
Rich Mattson & Germaine Gemberling with Becky Kapell & Paul Bergen
Hailed by Iron Range native and folk singer Paul Metsa as the “Johnny and June of Northern Minnesota,” this acoustic duo has been performing in and around the state since 2010. Well-known for their vocal harmonies, their repertoire consists of country/folk/rock classics mixed in with original compositions inspired by the north country.
Martha Scanlan & Jon Neufeld
Martha Scanlan is an award-winning songwriter based in western Montana. Her writing comes out of some of the deepest roots of Americana, winding between the mountains of East Tennessee and some of Montana’s most remote landscapes including a 120-year-old cattle ranch where she spent years living and working. She appeared on T Bone Burnett’s Cold Mountain soundtrack with former bandmates, Reeltime Travelers. Her songs have been covered by Sarah Jarosz, Andrew Marlin, Amy Helm and Solas and have found their way into books by authors Rick Bass and Joyce Carol Oates.
Jon Neufeld lives in Portland, Oregon and plays with a variety of musicians there including longtime bands Jackstraw (bluegrass) and The Kung Pow Chickens (Django jazz). Well-known for his innovative guitar playing, he is also a multi-intrumentalist, producer and mastering engineer. He has appeared on The Tonight Show and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert with his former band Black Prairie and toured Europe in an impossibly small rental car with famed Portland Indie band Dolorean.
Fellow Travelers
The Milwaukee-based Americana/indie/country group performs. Ross Thorn and Death Valley Yacht Club open.
Oktoberfest Block Printing Class
Participants in this two-hour block-printing session with Anna Kidd from Wild Kidd Design decorate their own bandana with stamps, using as few or as many as desired. More than 60 hand-carved block prints inspired by nature, wildlife and a north woods vibe are provided, along with two or three options for bandana colors. Attendees can also bring their own T-shirt, tote bag or other fabric item to decorate if desired.
This event is part of Ursa Minor’s annual Oktoberfest celebration, so five Oktoberfest and Ursa Minor themed blocks are also available to choose from.
The cost is $30 per person and $5 for each additional bandana/print project. To register visit wildkidddesign.com. Those who register are confirmed/prioritized for a spot, capping at 20 people due to space and resources. If there is room, walk ins are accepted. Email artkiddstudio @ gmail.com with any questions or last-minute cancellations.
Blue Valentine
Blue Valentine is a Tom Waits tribute group based out of Duluth. Instead of a traditional, slow-burning jazz approach, the trio takes songs from Waits’ massive catalog of junkyard tunes and turns them into up-tempo, punk-influenced numbers.
Thomas Sticha
The country/folk musician performs.
Freak Show Circus
“Come one, come all sinners and spectacle seekers, where freaks awaken and the strange is beautiful,” say the hosts from Cryptic Veil Oddities Studio and Gallery. This event features performances by Zenith City Horror. Organizers encourage attendees to dress in their best “freak show” attire while visiting the circus.
Gates open at 6:30 p.m.
Oktoberfest with the Polkarobics
Polka music by Duluth’s very own The Polkarobics and an afternoon of Oktoberfest games with Game Meister Shawn Fennesey.
Tombstone Chapel
Tombstone Chapel are taking over the taproom stage, bringing their signature blend of high-energy Southern rock, outlaw country and classic rock hits. Show at 7:00 p.m.
Entheos Enclave and Peat Boggs
Entheos Enclave is a Duluth based band fronted by Inga Weis. This Nordic fusion of indie/crossover prog and world music comes from both deep love and deep grief, while embracing the joy of artistry.
They will be joined by groove, jazz and folk quartet Peat Boggs.
Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com.
Ani Mari and Flutes & Low
Ani Mari is an alt-Americana singer-songwriter from the Northwoods of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, whose songs weave complex chord progressions into heart-wrenching stories and melodies. Her 2023 debut album, Girlfriend, fights for grace and connection amidst the anxieties, desires and heartbreaks of being young in America’s heartland. Her sophomore album is set for release in August.
Castle Danger Brewery’s 15th Anniversary
Castle Danger is celebrating 15 years in business with a full day of specialty beers, live music, food, family-friendly activities and the finale of its Golden Anniversary ATV Giveaway.
Schedule
11 a.m. to 1 p.m – Woodblind
1:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Mid Dream
4 to 6 p.m. – Big Wave Dave & The Ripples
7 to 9 p.m. – Indecent Proposal
Food is available from BoB-a-Q Smokehouse & Grill and The Rainy Rose, along with sweet treats from Love Creamery.
Activities include face painting, rock painting, Hug a Hen, a bouncy house obstacle course, cornhole, giant ladder golf and more.
Meet local organizations and vendors throughout the day, including Seagren’s PowerSports, Superior Hiking Trail Association, Stuff the Bus, Wildwoods, Two Harbors Area Food Shelf and more.
Matt Heckler
The bluegrass multi-instrumentalist performs. Folk duo Pine & Fire opens.
Canal Park Brewing takes silver medal at 2026 World Beer Cup
Duluth’s Canal Park Brewing Company won a silver medal in the wood- and barrel-aged beer category at the World Beer Cup, held April 22 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Night Trekker Baltic Porter, aged in a Vikre Distillery Aquavit barrel, with its hints of coffee, dark fruits and caramel, earned the award. The beer also won a gold medal in 2025 at the Minnesota Brewers Cup. (more…)
Earth Rider lands gold at 2025 World Beer Cup
Superior’s Earth Rider Brewery won a gold medal in the oatmeal stout category at the World Beer Cup, held May 1 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. North Tower Stout, an ale with malty accents of chocolate, coffee and dark fruit balanced with a restrained hop presence, earned the award. The beer has now won three medals in its category at the World Beer Cup, having previously won a gold medal in 2022 and a bronze medal in 2018. (more…)
Ursa Minor earns bronze at Great American Beer Festival
Duluth’s Ursa Minor Brewing won a bronze medal for its Equanimity Irish Style Red Ale at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver on Oct. 12. It’s the brewery’s second bronze medal at the festival; the first came in 2019 for Thistle Dew in the Scottish-Style Ale category.
Equanimity also won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2022 and another gold at the World Beer Cup in 2023. (more…)
Duluth-area beer production back on an upswing
When Perfect Duluth Day last took stock of regional craft beer production in 2020, the Twin Ports and surrounding region had generated roughly 50,000 barrels of brew — more than 1.5 million gallons. Pandemic production dipped slightly but has stabilized and started to rebound. The 2022 tally shows a production level of more than 61,000 barrels of brew as well as optimism that there’s still some untapped potential for growth. (more…)
Ursa Minor takes gold at 2023 World Beer Cup
Ursa Minor Brewing in Duluth won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup on May 10. It’s the sixth medal for Duluth-area breweries at the annual competition.
Ursa Minor’s win was in the Irish-style red ale category for its beer Equanimity. (more…)
Mr. Bierhalter, what is bock beer?
As bock season kicks into high gear — Earth Rider celebrates this weekend; Fitger’s is waiting until April this year — we look back 110 years to get Fitger’s brewmaster John Bierhalter’s definition of the strong, dark beer traditionally brewed in fall and consumed in spring. (more…)
Warrior Brewing opens tap room
The Duluth News Tribune reports Warrior Brewing Company opened a tap room at its Lincoln Park neighborhood brewery on Sept. 24. The brewery began producing off-sale beer for distribution in cans and bottles in 2021.
Lake Superior Brewing to open soon; no beer until Labor Day
A specific date hasn’t been set, but WDIO-TV reports that Lake Superior Brewing will open soon. It will initially be just a restaurant and bar, however. The brewery’s beer won’t be ready until September. “Hopefully by Labor Day,” co-owner Sarah Maxim told WDIO. (more…)
Blacklist Brewing Company new location flythrough
Blacklist Brewing Company made the move to 206 E. Superior St. in May. Ethan Schultz of ShotxSchultz did a flythrough before the move, during construction, and now has returned to show the new Blacklist location in action.
Twin Ports breweries nab three medals at World Beer Cup
Representatives of Bent Paddle (left) and Earth Rider (right) accepted medals at the 2022 World Beer Cup.
Bent Paddle in Duluth and Earth Rider in Superior each won gold medals at the World Beer Cup on May 5. It’s the first time more than one medal was won by the region’s breweries at the competition. Bent Paddle also took home a bronze medal. (more…)
A look at the future Blacklist Brewing Company location
Blacklist Brewery‘s move to 206 E. Superior St., announced about a year ago, is nearing reality. An opening date announcement is expected soon.
Until then, à la Bryant Lake Bowl and Glensheen, a drone flythrough tour is available. The video is by Ethan Schultz of ShotxSchultz.